1. THEMES
1.1. The importance of family.
1.2. The necessity of independence.
1.3. The conflict of difference generations.
1.4. The acknowledgement of family values.
1.5. The significance of personal culture.
2. SYMBOLS
2.1. Major symbols in the novel include the Mah Jong table, the candle, Lena's vase, Jing-mei's piano, and the Moon Lady.
2.2. The Mahjong table
2.2.1. The Mahjong table is played by the mothers of the four families. “Everything is the same, except now a mahogany-colored mah jong table sits in the center” (Tan 21). The mahjong table represents all the interconnected relationships between the Woo’s, Hsu’s, Jong’s, and the Clair’s. It represents their family and how they care and rely on each other.
2.3. Lena's Vase
2.3.1. The vase at Lena's house that broke played a symbolic meaning within the story. “Off to the side is the black vase, the smooth cylinder broken in half, the freesias strewn in a puddle of water” (Tan 181). The broken vase symbolizes Lenas shaky relationship that she has with Harold. It is seen in the novel that Lena is struggling and unhappy with their relationship. Since the vase broke without anyone tipping it over, it shows that the end of their relationship is going to happen soon.
2.4. Jing Mei's Piano
2.4.1. “The lid to the piano was closed, shutting out the dust, my misery, and her dreams” (Tan 154). The piano represents Jing Mei’s straining relationship that she has with her mother, and how it represents Suyuans high expectations that she has for Jing Mei, and how Jing Mei constantly disappoints her.
3. METAPHORS
3.1. "All these years I kept my true nature hidden, running along like a small shadow so nobody could catch me" (Tan 64). The author utilizes this quote to elaborate on how Ying-Ying doesn't believe that her daughter can see the things that are important in life. The reason why Ying Ying strongly believes in that thought is because of the experiences that she faced during her childhood, such as her falling in the lake during the Moon Festival. This had an everlasting affect on Ying Ying, making her more more closed off, and she didn't allow herself to fully trust others. This reflected greatly upon her relationship with Lena, and made their relationship more strained. When Lena's Vase broke, this made Lena truly realize the importance of things in life, and strengthened her bond with her mother.
3.1.1. "In her hands, I always became the pawn. I could only run away. And she was the queen, able to move in all directions, relentless in her pursuit, always able to find the weakest sports" (Tan 132). The usage of this quote suggest that Waverly is having an argument with Lindo. Waverly refers to the pawn as herself, and she refers to her mom, Lindo, as the queen. This also describes their relationship, showing how her mother is relentless, has the most power in their relationship, and is able to control her. Waverly sees herself as a pawn since she can't fight back against her mother, and can only be manipulated.
4. A Chinese Dragon
5. CHINESE CULTURE AND TRADITIONS
5.1. The novel Joy Luck Club contains various cultural references regarding to the Chinese culture and traditions. One reference is when Ying Ying attends the Moon Festival celebration. The history behind the Moon Festival is that there were ten suns existing, that made life very difficult for people because of the heat. Then a hero name Hou Yi shot down nine of the ten suns, which allowed people to live an easier life, so they celebrate Hou Yi's victory on that day. The time when Ying Ying attended the Moon Festival, that was the time when she fell into the lake, and it was also the time when she finally realized that she was all on her own, and that no one was going to save her.
5.2. Another cultural reference in the novel Joy Luck Club is the usage of the Mahjong Table. The origin of the Mah Jong table comes from China during the 19th century. After its creation, it was quickly spread throughout Asia, and the game is well known to only have four players. Players greatly rely on their skill in order to win the game. The Mahjong table plays a large importance in the novel, since it is what brings the families together, and keeps them united.
6. MOTIFS
6.1. STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS
6.1.1. Many strained relationships are shown throughout the novel. “I start to cry, which I know Harold hates. It always makes him uncomfortable, angry” (Tan 179). “... I failed her so many times, each time asserting my own will, my right to fall short of expectations” (Tan 154). These quotes describe how their strained relationships affected each person in a different way emotionally. The struggles that each person goes through is reflected through their relationship with their significant other.
6.2. DEATH
6.2.1. The motif of death is shown various times throughout the book.“My mother had died a few months before…” (Tan 155). “.. before he died of a heart attack at the age of seventy-four” (162). “My auntie said it was Popo’s dying time and I must show respect” (40). Death is a recurring idea in the novel. Death has a major effect on the characters, and in some cases, the characters had trauma from the death. This makes them reflect on their relationship that they had with their loved ones, and they realize that life does not last forever
6.3. CONFLICT
6.3.1. The motif of conflict happens many times throughout the novel. “But the next night, the girl came back to life with more screams, more beating, her life once more in peril” (Tan 114, 153). The conflict that happens between the characters has an everlasting effect on their life and emotions. When Jing Mei had a fight with her mother, it had an emotional effect on the both of them.
7. CHARACTERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS
7.1. Suyuan Woo and Jing-mei "June" Woo
7.1.1. Throughout the novel, Suyuan and June are constantly seen to have a strained relationship. Suyuan continues to set high expectations for June as her daughter, but June never meets her expectations and continues to disappoint her mother.
7.2. An-mei Hsu and Rose Jsu Jordan
7.2.1. An-mei and Rose have a good relationship in the novel. Rose tries to be the best person that she can be by following her mother when she wants her to be intelligent and independent. But Rose thinks that she failed her mother when she isn't able to keep her marriage stable.
7.3. Lindo Jong and Waverly Jong
7.3.1. Lindo does love Waverly very much, but she wants her to realize what is important in life and to put herself first. But on certain occasions, their relationship is strained when Waverly feels like she is judged by her mother, which causes conflict between the two.
7.4. Ying-ying St. Clair and Lena St. Clair
7.4.1. Ying Ying and Lena are also seen to have a strained relationship in the novel. They do bth care about each other like family, but the trauma that Ying ying had experienced when she was younger had reflected onto their relationship, which caused it to be more strained since Ying ying became more closed off and distant.