Dongmin's+English+Rough+Draft

Dongmin Lim

Pick at least on 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?

The Joy Luck Club, is a novel that talks about the stories of Chinese immigrants who are seeking for a better life, or in another words find the American dream. It was a time of hardship and difficulty for them to adjust to the new culture and community. The mother and daughter are born in a different generation, and they have different values and tradition. Even though, the every family is seeking or trying t to reach the American dream, non of them had fully fulfilled the dream due to the big differences they have each other. The gap and the distinction between those two is what made them further from the American Dream. So first of all, what is the American Dream? American Dream can be interpreted in many ways. Obviously, it is a dream which basically represents success living in the United States. The American Dream consists of good family relations, well enough financial stability, and equality. However, the majority of the families in the Joy Luck Club has the opposite of what is expected in a American dream family. Jingmei and Suyuan, the Woo family, is known for their contradicting ideas and customs which leads them into constant arguments. Even though they are living in the United States searching for a better life, life seemed to remain constant with no progress. Jingmei was born as a spoiled child who doesn’t know the hardship of life. She ignores her mother’s words due to that fact that its different with her own beliefs. Due to her ignorance, she humiliates herself in front of many audiences who went to watch her piano performance. Eventually from her disgrace, her mom gives up on her and Jingmei still not realizing her problem. After her mom is gone, she had to experience a situation of despair and hopelessness. From her condition and her status, they still haven’t experienced or came near the American Dream. Jingmei is a soloist, and her family is all isolated. She will have a hard time, or will never meet the ideal of the American Dream. Another depressing pair, An mei Hsu and Rose Hsu, are suffering through their lives in the land of opportunity. Rose and Anmie hsu also have a far distance relationship as a mother and daughter. The death of her brother has been a big impact in her life which will remain mesmerizing in their lives. Rose was a immature girl who didn’t listen to her mom’s words or lessons. When her mom argued against going out with Ted because he was an American, Rose also said “ Im American too, Its not as if I’m going to marry him or something.” Because she was born in America, she believed that she is going to follow the American dream, but the results didn’t come out as she wanted. Rose, in someways met the American dream in one way. She found a man, or in other words a husband, who will live by her side and live a happily, but not for long. After a while meeting Ted Jordan, she thought that her life was gonna be all fine and that she will be living a better life, but Ted betrays Rose and has an affair with a different girl. So basically, the American dream shattered and she will have to live alone with all the burden of her brother’s death. Lastly, Lindo and Waverly pairs are also the victims of not experiencing the American dream. Waverly was at least the most talented one of out of all the three pair. She was a very talented chess player who won tournaments and also the top player in her city. However, the chess playing wasn’t for herself but was forced by her mom. Her mom who had strong pride in chinese wanted her daughter to be talented as possible. In one of her statements, she says “Chinese people do many things,” Chinese people do business, do medicine, do painting. Not Lazy like American People. We do torture. Best torture.” Lindo was a very strict women and believed following the chinese values is superior to the American. Eventually, her strong pride distinguished their family to follow the American Dream. Waverly later on meets a man who becomes her husband which was the beggining of her american dream. She has an alright relationship with her, but her husband and her mother weren’t really a good match. She always criticized about Waverly’s husband that he doesn’t know much of the Chinese values. Later on, as their relationship got weaker day by day, they decided to divorce. Divorce was considered a crime or sin in Chinese tradition due to the old concubine culture. Waverly will have to carry the title of a divorced women and take the burden as a ex chess player. In conclusion, the Joy Luck Club tend to have a ironic title. Instead of joy and luck, the characters all faced despair and hardship. Joy Luck Club is in another word represented the American dream. People were working hard and living in order to reach the dream, however non of them have actually reached it. Maybe their harsh life and the life lessons is the the things that made them reach the American dream. Life is harsh and the society people live in is a competition. The generation gap and the difference of traditions is what made the gap to the American dream further.

Keunwha Song Your essay is a novel compared to my first draft, I don't have any right to say bad things about your essay. But you gotta put some quotes. Other than that, your essay is close to perfection. You used almost all characters to support your point, and you did a good job on it. I am looking forward to read your finished essay!

Eddy Choi

Your Essay is very clear and focused, I think you made great supporting details and good characters to help support your thesis. I believe that you can improve your essay writing if you put some dialouges or some important quotes that are in the novel. the essay is well organized as well, great transitions. Overall I believe that this is a great essay