First+Draft+-+Mina+Park

**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?** People immigrate to America primarily because of the American Dream. However, what exactly is the American Dream? People have different meanings and understandings of what the American Dream is. Some people see the American Dream as a dream of freedom and equality; a dream of opportunity and a new start. Usually the old generation would see the American dream as an opportunity for a new beginning. Others, mostly the new generation, see the American Dream as a dream of fame and wealth. People of different generations have different visions and ideologies; thus, creating a generation gap. Amy Tan portrays the generation gap in __The Joy Luck Club__ by comparing the perspectives of a mother and a daughter. Due to culture changes and exposure to other traditions, the generation gap is expanding instead of coming closer.

The old generation tended to search for freedom and equality; they escaped their repressed, gruesome life and immigrated to the United States for an opportunity to start all over. The old generation would keep their 'true' identity and traditions. The old generation valued their families and their future generations. Lindo Jong left China and immigrated to the United States to escape her marriage, her past, and to have a new start, a new image. People of the old generation tended to be sensitive of what other think about and how they judge them. Waverly's mother, Lindo, started to brag and show off her daughter's trophies out in public. "My mother would proudly walk with me, visiting many shops, buying very little" (101). It was a way of showing the people how proud they were. Although Waverly may think that her mother was self-centered and only wanting to show off the trophies, Lindo Jong thought about her child, Waverly Jong, and thought about her future and what she wanted for Waverly. "I[Lindo Jong] don't know what caused me to change...Maybe it was seeing you[Waverly Jong] as a baby, how you looked so much like me, and this made me dissatisfied with my life. I wanted everything for you to be better. I wanted you to have the best circumstances, the best character. I didn't want you to regret anything" (303). The older generation would think about, not only themselves but, their children and their future. They see the American Dream as an opportunity and hope; for their children, they want them to continue on the American Dream and become happy and have what their mothers couldn't have.

Waverly Jong, the daughter of Lindo Jong, represents the new generation. She is more self-centered compared to her mother and doesn't think about her future; she focuses more on her current issues. Waverly Jong may think that her mother is self-centered. However, Waverly is self-centered. The new generation is self-centered; they think about themselves and not about their grandparents nor their future generations. The old generation aimed to have freedom, equality, and opportunity; nevertheless, the new generation aimed for "I[Waverly] hated the way she[Lindo] tried to take all credit. And one day I told her so, shouting at her on Stockton Street, in the middle of a crowd of people. I told her she didn't know anything, so she shouldn't show off. She should shut up. Words to that effect" (187). Each generation has a misunderstanding of each other. The old generation believes the new generation would have no values and they would change drastically. "I[Lindo Jong] once sacrificed my life to keep my parents' promise. This means nothing to you, because to you promises mean nothing...It's too late to chance you, but I'm telling you this because I worry about your baby...She will forget she had a grandmother" (42).

People change over time. People do different things. People have different ideas, cultures, and values. The generation gap won't disappear. There will always be a generation gap due to diversity; different cultures will mix and blend in together. Despite the old and new generation's differences, one thing that would always be passed on are their traits, their genes. Mother and daughter are the same in some aspects; they have similar looks and characteristics. Although they may have different ideologies and values, they will keep their identity and know who they are. The American Dream may have numerous meanings; nonetheless, combining both the old and new generation's definition, the American Dream may be an opportunity and freedom for everyone where they are able to achieve their goals and become rich, if they work hard enough. "I[Lindo Jong] was so much like my mother. This was before out circumstances separated us: a flood that caused my family to leave me behind, my first marriage to a family that did no want me, a war from all sides, and later, an ocean that took me to a new country. She did not see how my face changed over the years...How my eyes began to follow the American way" (293).