first+draft+joy+luck+club

Pick at least one mother-daughter pair, and examine to what degree each has fulfilled the American Dream. How does the importance and/or definition of the American Dream change between generations?

“My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America...You could become rich. You could become instantly famous.... America was where all my mother’s hopes lay”(141). Individual defines the American dream from their own experiences and standard beliefs in life. In the Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, Tan explores the connection between mothers and daughters through the struggles of the daughters by portraying the daughters establishing their own identity as either Chinese or American. As the land of opportunity filled up with mass numbers of immigrants, Chinese developed their own value of life from the disparity one experienced back in their mother land. From the process of accepting a new culture, the Chinese mothers’ unintentionally asserts their American dreams by pressuring their daughters. It is obvious that in any culture, mothers wish their daughters the best; however, without the cooperation between the mother and daughter, the American dream is a goal that cannot be attained. Among the four pairs of mothers and daughters, the Woo’s family depicts confrontation between the mother’s fundamental endurance against the daughter's uncertainty towards her identity.

“Of course you can be a prodigy too,” says Suyuan as she enforces the idea that anyone can become successful with hard work (141). Suyuan’s assertions are simple; she wants her daughter to attain happiness without going through hardships. Born and raised in China, after her arrival in America, Suyuan doubtlessly accepts and admires the typical American dream. But the way the she implies her beliefs does not convince Jing-mei, her daughter, how she is innately talented to become a prodigy. In fact, Jing-mei lacks confidence from her “raised hopes and failed expectations,” vigorously and stubbornly stating her refusal towards her mother’s assertions (144). The lack of confidence built during her childhood years continuously expands towards her adulthood. The exaggeration enforced by Suyuan leads to Jing-mei’s unsuccessful results from exceeding pressure and highly set goals.

The American philosophy of life is easily adapted to the Woo family; however, Suyuan only maintains this positive view towards her daughter, while she is pessimistic toward herself. As Suyuan determines Jing-mei’s talents in the genre of piano, expectations are highly set towards Jing-mei’s career. Rebellious attitude is easily spotted in the story, but this does not stop Suyuan from trusting and loving her daughter. Jing-mei does not reach Suyuan’s definition of the American dream at the piano recital; Jing-mei does not achieve fame or money. Nonetheless, even with the terrible recital with embarrassment, Suyuan still loves Jing-mei for who she is. Seeking for her daughter’s happiness, it is Suyuan that continuously works to raise money for her daughter. As the Chinese culture is strongly placed within Suyuan’s personality and actions, she enthusiastically tries to provide her daughter an opportunity to set apart from the traditional Chinese values females hold, a reflection of herself.

The American dream of Jing-mei is not achieved until Suyuan’s death, more likely, Jing-mei is not able to define it until her mother’s death. After her mother dies, Jing-mei realizes that Suyuan’s expectations towards her did not result from the jealousy other mothers’ to brag,--especially Lindo Jong and Waverly-- but Suyuan’s trust in identifying Jing-mei’s abilities that she will find passion in herself. Finally accepting her mother’s words, Jing-mei also realizes that the inflation of expectations resulted from Suyuan’s trust in her: to commemorate the efforts and trials Jing-mei made while trying to find her own self identity.

It is common for children from different cultures to refuse in accepting their parents dreams and expectations towards their own future. It is the lack of value majority see in these goals, as children don’t realize the importance themselves. Cultural difference might be key towards this issue, but more than the definition of culture, it is the lack passion to cooperate with one another in understanding each other; whether that is resulted from language, culture, or even physical looks. Jing-mei understands her mother’s definition towards the American dream after her death; her mother has gave up her life in China to put in everything towards Jing-mei. At the end of the book, Jing-mei “feel the skin on my(her) forehead...becoming Chinese” (306). Throughout the book, Jing-mei never defined the American dream, instead was affirmed by her surrounding environments. When she was the one who took a step towards her own determination, it came naturally to her mind what her mother meant, and the sacrifices she made for her own daughter. “Perfectly Contented” reflects Jing-mei’s final perseverance at the end of the story. Discordant but harmonious, assertion and reception leads to form one harmoniously defined meaning of the mother and daughter’s definition of the American dream. Nothing should be asserted, instead, gradually interest one’s child.

edited by Mina Park Stacy Moon -First Draft Edit-Josephine Lee