The Joy Luck Club Summary
Description
Here you will find a The Joy Luck Club summary (Amy Tan's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters The Joy Luck Club Summary Overview
This narrative unfolds through the intermingled tales of tension between Chinese immigrant mothers and their daughters, born and raised in America. The focus lies on Jing-mei's journey to China to meet her half-siblings, twins Chwun Yu and Chwun Hwa, who were left behind amidst the chaos of World War II during their mother, Suyuan's, desperate escape from the Japanese invasion of Kweilin. Jing-mei, born to a different father in America much later, steps into her deceased mother's shoes, assuming her role in a mahjong club that her mother had introduced in San Francisco, which featured three of her mother’s closest friends and fellow immigrants. They continuously encourage Jing-mei to venture to China and reveal to her sisters their mother’s life story. However, Jing-mei doubts her ability to tell her mother’s tale accurately, inducing fear in the three older women that their daughters, much like Jing-mei, may not fully understand or value their mothers' stories. The narrative is divided into four distinct sections, each offering four separate stories. The first part involves the mothers recounting their relationships with their own mothers, expressing concern that their daughters will not remember them as vividly. The second section narrates the daughters’ childhood memories of their mothers, thereby proving the mothers’ anxieties to be at least partially baseless. The third set of narratives revolve around the daughters’ adult tribulations—marital issues and career problems. Despite their belief that their mothers’ outdated notions are irrelevant to their American lifestyles, their quest for solutions inevitably leads them back to their relationships with the older generation. The final section follows the mothers as they attempt to provide solutions and support to their daughters, in doing so, enriching their understanding of themselves. Despite Jing-mei's apprehensions about her competency in articulating her mother’s life, Suyuan’s story diffuses throughout the narrative largely through Jing-mei’s voice. This represents the struggle to perpetuate the mother-daughter bond across cultural and generational differences; Jing-mei, as her mother’s daughter, embodies the very bond that forms the crux of Suyuan’s story. Jing-mei's trip to China and her efforts to acquaint her half-siblings with their mother's memory strengthens the mother-daughter relationships. Her journey signifies the reconciliation of Suyuan’s two lives, two cultures, and the mother-daughter bond, bringing closure and resolution, not just to her mother’s tale, but also to her own. It also instills hope in the other members of the mahjong club that they too can reconcile the antagonisms in their lives between past and present, cultures, and generations.
introduction
The Joy Luck Club is structured into four sections, each prefaced by a brief allegory illustrating the primary themes of the subsequent four tales. In the segment "Feathers from a Thousand Li Away", a Chinese woman opts to relocate to the United States. Prior to her departure from Shanghai, she acquires a swan from a market trader who claims the bird evolved from a duck into a swan, surpassing its own aspirations through immense effort. As she makes her way to America, she envisions giving her future daughter a life full of vast opportunities. She dreams of a daughter who mirrors her in every aspect, but with one key difference - her worth will not be measured by her husband's value but her own. The daughter, like the swan, will surpass all expectations. The woman intends to offer the swan to her daughter as a symbol of this. However, upon her arrival, the immigration officers confiscate the swan, leaving her with a single feather. Her daughter is born and matures into the robust, cheerful woman she had hoped for. She longs to hand over the feather to her daughter and explain its profound significance, but she hesitates for years. She patiently awaits the day she can articulate it flawlessly in English.
chapter 1
Jing-mei's journey begins with her replacing her late mother, Suyuan, in the Joy Luck Club - a weekly mahjong gathering - at her father, Canning's, request. This San Francisco club was a continuation of the one Suyuan had formed in China, and the tale of its origins was shared by Jing-mei. Suyuan was formerly married to Fuchi Wang, an officer of the Kuomintang, the ruling party of China during the 1940s. Fuchi relocated Suyuan and their twin girls, Chwun Yu and Chwun Hwa, to Kweilin due to the threats of the Japanese invasions and rising communists. Amidst the refugee crisis, ethnic tension, and scarcity, Suyuan founded the Joy Luck Club with three other women as a source of consolation. “And [at each meeting], we could hope to be lucky” and “That hope was our only joy. And that’s [why we called] . . . our little parties Joy Luck.” Suyuan would end her account here to Jing-mei usually, making it sound like a “Chinese fairy tale.” However, she once shared the sad reality of her departure from the original Joy Luck Club in Kweilin. Advised by an army officer to join her husband in Chungking, Suyuan understood it as a warning of the Japanese invasion. She carried her children and essentials on a lengthy journey to Chungking, leaving things behind due to exhaustion, and arrived there with only three silk dresses. The fate of her twin girls was not shared with Jing-mei for years. At the Joy Luck Club gathering, Jing-mei feels overwhelmed by her mother's legacy and her critical nature. She especially feels the weight of her mother's comparisons to her friend Lindo's successful daughter, Waverly. She endures criticism about her academic failures and eviction from her apartment during her first meeting. In a surprising turn of events, her mother’s friends reveal that Suyuan had located her long-lost twins just before passing away. They drafted a letter to the twins in Suyuan's name and received a response. They offer Jing-mei $1,200 to meet her sisters in China and share their mother's legacy. Overcome with emotion, Jing-mei questions whether she can fulfill this task.
chapter 2
At the age of four, An-mei and her younger sibling were sent to live with their grandmother, Popo, after their mother became Wu-Tsing's concubine. Popo prohibited any mention of their mother, leading to An-mei's eventual memory loss of her. When Popo fell gravely ill, their mother returned for the first time in half a decade. As she touched An-mei's hair and scar on her neck, repressed memories flooded back. An-mei recalled a pivotal incident at the age of four when her mother appeared at Popo's house pleading for An-mei's custody. This occasion ended with a crying An-mei suffering a burn wound from hot soup, which later healed into a scar. Shortly before Popo's death, An-mei witnessed her mother carve a piece of her own flesh to add to a soup for Popo. This action was in line with an old belief that such personal sacrifice could potentially heal a sick family member, symbolizing deep parental devotion. This act of self-inflicted pain to ease Popo’s suffering made An-mei understand and love her mother more, reminding her of her deep-rooted familial ties.
chapter 3
Lindo Jong shares an account of her early life and complicated relationship with her mother. Since she was betrothed to Huang Tyan-yu at two, her mother began calling her Tyan-yu's mother's daughter. This early displacement made Lindo feel like she already belonged to her future mother-in-law, Huang Taitai. After a flood destroyed their home when Lindo was twelve, she moved in with Tyan-yu's family where she was treated poorly and served as a maid. When Lindo turned sixteen, she became Tyan-yu's wife. On her wedding day, she contemplated suicide, but witnessing the power of the wind, she realized her own strength. She decided to respect her parents' wishes but also pursue her happiness. During their wedding, Lindo and Tyan-yu lit a red candle symbolically, indicating an everlasting marriage if the candle burned till dawn without either end going out. When the servant in charge of the candle mistook a storm for a Japanese attack and fled, Lindo blew out Tyan-yu's end. Despite this, the matchmaker confirmed their marriage the next day. Lindo was made to sleep on the couch by Tyan-yu for several months until Taitai intervened. Though Lindo then shared Tyan-yu's bed, he never showed any intimacy. When Lindo didn't conceive, Taitai made her stay in bed, hoping this would help. Lindo eventually found an escape from the marriage, convincing Taitai that their ancestors warned her in a dream of Tyan-yu's impending doom if the marriage continued. She further convinced Taitai that their ancestors chose a servant girl, supposedly of royal lineage, to be Tyan-yu's real wife. The servant girl played along to give birth within marriage and gain financial stability. Thus, Tyan-yu's marriage with Lindo ended, paving the way for her to move to America.
chapter 4
Ying-ying shares a vivid memory from her childhood when she was four and attended the Moon Festival. She reflects on how silent she has been in her life that even her own daughter, Lena, fails to truly perceive her. This silence was largely due to Ying-ying's fear of expressing personal wants. During the festival, Ying-ying was dressed by her nurse, Amah, in a yellow silk garment with black stripes. Amah told her about the Moon Lady, who could make secret wishes come true. However, she also warned Ying-ying not to share her wishes with others or they would turn into selfish desires. Amah instilled that it was not right for a woman to express her needs and that a girl should "never ask, only listen." This belief stayed with Ying-ying throughout her life. The festival banquet was on a boat on a lake. Captivated, Ying-ying saw the chef prepare the fish for their meal. She was later shocked to see her dress covered in fish blood and scales. She tried to hide the stains by smearing turtle blood on her clothes, but this only made Amah angry. Amah then left her alone in her undergarments. During the celebrations, a firecracker startled Ying-ying, causing her to fall into the lake. She was rescued by a fisherman who attempted to reunite her with her family. Despite his efforts, they only encountered strangers. He left her on the shore, thinking her family would find her. Feeling completely lost, Ying-ying watched a play about the Moon Lady and wished fervently to be found.
chapter 5
The narrative preceding the book's second segment revolves around a dispute between a U.S.-raised girl and her mother. The elder lady warns her seven-year-old child against cycling around the corner, foreseeing a mishap when the girl is out of sight or hearing. She refers to a Chinese book, "The Twenty-six Malignant Gates", which elaborates on the perils her daughter may encounter away from home. However, the girl, unable to comprehend the book due to its Chinese text, becomes frustrated when her mother refuses to disclose the specific dangers. This leads her to impulsively ride off on her bike, only to fall before she even reaches the corner.
chapter 6
Waverly Jong, Lindo's child, tells of her mother teaching her "the art of invisible strength" when she was six. This led to her becoming an esteemed child chess player. Her prowess in the game began when she received a box of Lifesavers for Christmas and her brother got a used chess set with some pieces missing. Instead of candies, she used her Lifesavers as replacements for the missing pieces, sparking her fascination for chess. She studied the game rules and read strategy books from the library, becoming proficient in the game. She was later taught advanced strategies by Lau Po, an elderly man who played chess in the park. As Waverly's skill grew, she became quite a sensation within her local community in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Participating in various tournaments, she eventually became a national champion at the age of nine, only 429 points away from being a grandmaster. Her mother, Lindo, took immense pride in her daughter's achievements, often showcasing her in public to feed her own self-esteem. One day, annoyed by her mother's constant boasting, Waverly told her off in public, which led her to run away. She eventually returned home to a disappointed Lindo, who emotionally distanced herself from Waverly. This disagreement led Waverly to visualize a chess game where Lindo was her adversary, pushing her pieces off the board, making her feel unanchored. The story ends with Waverly contemplating her next move, stating, “I closed my eyes and pondered my next move.”
chapter 7
Lena St. Clair reveals that her mother, Ying-ying, never discussed her past in China. Clifford, Lena's English-Irish father, claims he rescued Ying-ying from a horrific incident in China, which she refused to talk about. Clifford knew minimal Mandarin and Ying-ying struggled with English, so communication relied heavily on gestures. Unfamiliar with her language, Clifford often assumed the meaning behind her words. Even though Lena could comprehend her mother's Mandarin, she hardly grasped the underlying messages, frequently finding them absurd. She also often modified the English translations to manipulate her mother's actions. After Clifford’s promotion, the family relocated from Oakland to a hilly area in an Italian district in San Francisco. Ying-ying was unsettled by the apartment's positioning and obsessively rearranged the furniture for balance. Lena would overhear the neighboring girl, Teresa Sorci, fighting with her mother and feared for her safety. Around this time, Lena’s parents broke the news that Ying-ying was expecting a baby. Clifford was elated, but Ying-ying seemed indifferent. Sadly, the baby boy died instantly after birth due to serious health issues. Ying-ying blamed herself in the hospital, speaking cryptically about another son she had lost. Lena translated her mother's regretful words to her father as hopeful sentiments. Upon returning home, Ying-ying started unraveling mentally. Lena consoled herself by comparing her situation to Teresa's, whom she assumed was worse off. However, one day, Teresa climbed onto Lena's window ledge, planning to sneak back into her own house as a prank on her mother. Later, Lena heard Teresa and her mother not just arguing, but also laughing with a bizarre mix of joy and love.
chapter 8
Rose Hsu Jordan reflects on her mother, An-mei's, once-prized Bible that now supports a table leg in her apartment. As she watches An-mei clean around the Bible, Rose ponders how to tell her mother about the impending divorce with her husband, Ted. She realizes that attempting to salvage the marriage, as An-mei would advise, is futile. She recalls the initial opposition to her relationship with Ted from both her mother and Ted's mother. Despite this resistance, they stuck together with Ted making most decisions. Rose relished being the damsel in distress Ted always rescued. However, Ted's demeanour changed after a significant professional setback. He started forcing Rose to make decisions, becoming irritable when she hesitated. Eventually, he proposed a divorce, leaving Rose completely taken aback. Rose’s thoughts veer towards a painful childhood memory that led to her mother’s disillusionment with her faith. On a family beach vacation, Rose was tasked with looking after her younger brothers. While she was distracted by a skirmish between the brothers, her youngest sibling, Bing, wandered into the sea and disappeared. Despite a frantic search, Bing was never found. The family was overwhelmed with guilt and remorse. In a desperate attempt to retrieve Bing, An-mei drove Rose to the beach the next morning. She prayed and made offerings to “the Coiling Dragon”, hoping to appease the deity she believed had taken Bing. However, when she threw a rescue tube into the water and watched it get destroyed, she accepted Bing was lost forever. Rose initially believed that her mother had succumbed to the fact that faith could not alter destiny. However, she later understands that “fate is shaped half by expectation, half by inattention” - thus explaining her story's title “Half and Half”. She connects her negligence leading to Bing’s death to her failing to notice her crumbling marriage. She ends her tale on a hopeful note, focusing on the role of expectation in shaping fate. Lastly, she reveals having found Bing’s name pencilled lightly under the “Deaths” section in the Bible beneath the table.
chapter 9
Jing-mei recounts her childhood, marked by disappointment from failing to meet her mother Suyuan's expectations of becoming a prodigious talent. Inspired by the accomplishments of Waverly Jong, Suyuan was convinced Jing-mei could excel in some talent if she worked hard enough. Despite Suyuan's insistence, Jing-mei eventually made a promise to herself not to be moulded into something she was not. This resolve was tested when she was made to take piano lessons from their neighbor, a retired, deaf teacher named Mr. Chong. Jing-mei took advantage of Mr. Chong's deafness, only maintaining proper rhythm while ignoring her mistakes. When Jing-mei was entered into a talent show by Suyuan and Mr. Chong, she performed Schumann’s “Pleading Child” in front of the Joy Luck Club. Convinced her innate talent would surface, she did not prepare adequately, leading to a disastrous performance. This resulted in a heated argument between Jing-mei and her mother, with Jing-mei even expressing a death wish. The piano lessons were never mentioned again. Many years later, on Jing-mei's thirtieth birthday, Suyuan gifted her the family piano, expressing quiet disappointment that Jing-mei could have been a good pianist had she put in effort. After Suyuan passed away, Jing-mei decided to play “Pleading Child” again and was surprised at how the music came back to her. She also played the piece on the next page, “Perfectly Contented”, and discovered that the two pieces worked together like two halves of a song.
chapter 10
A mother's visit to her newlywed daughter's condo is told in the prologue preceding the third part. The mother is upset about a mirror positioned at the foot of the bed due to her belief in superstitions. She fears it might deflect her daughter's marital bliss. However, her daughter brushes off her warning as another of her mother's doomsday predictions. To counteract this, the mother unveils a second mirror, a housewarming present, and situates it at the head of the bed. She believes this will amplify her daughter's "peach-blossom luck". Curious, the daughter asks her mother to elaborate on this luck. The mother, peering into the mirror, announces that she sees her future grandchild. When the daughter checks, she sees the child in her own reflection.
chapter 11
Lena St. Clair dwells on her mother Ying-ying's knack for predicting disaster and her regret about not preventing them. As Ying-ying is set to visit Lena and her husband Harold's new abode, Lena contemplates about what her mother's instincts might reveal. Recalling her past, Lena reflects on her mother’s prophetic skills. Ying-ying once prophesied that Lena's future husband would have as many pockmarks as the rice grains she left untouched at dinner. This instilled a fear in young Lena who dreaded marrying her pockmarked bully, Arnold, causing her to finish every last grain of rice. However, Ying-ying reminded her of the countless times she left rice grains in her bowl, making her despise Arnold and wish for his demise. Lena started associating her eating habits with Arnold's wellbeing. She believed that leaving her rice would result in more pockmarks on Arnold. She started avoiding large portions of food, fearing they would transform into ailments on Arnold. Eventually, she developed anorexia. Years later, learning about Arnold's sudden death from a rare disease, she binged on ice cream and spent the night vomiting. Retrospectively, Lena questions if she might have wished for Arnold's death and if her current marriage is a punishment for her bad intentions. Since Lena and Harold met, they meticulously tracked their individual expenses. Despite Lena's contribution to Harold's successful architecture firm, he refused to promote her to avoid accusations of favouritism. Harold's earnings were seven times higher than Lena's, causing her to resent the idea of being his domestic "equal." During Ying-ying's visit, she observes the record of their shared expenses. When Lena explains the list, Ying-ying insists that Lena shouldn't repay Harold for the ice cream, remembering Lena's past experience with it. When Lena confronts Harold about her dislike for ice cream, he offers to pay for it himself. However, this doesn't mitigate Lena's resentment towards him, leading to an argument. In the midst of this, Ying-ying breaks a vase on Harold’s unstable table. Lena reassures Ying-ying while cleaning up the mess, admitting that she anticipated this. Yang-ying questions why Lena didn't take any measures to prevent it.
chapter 12
Waverly Jong is eager to announce her engagement to her boyfriend, Rich, to her mother, Lindo. She attempts to discuss Rich with Lindo at a Chinese restaurant, but Lindo brushes these attempts aside. Waverly then invites Lindo over to see the mink coat gifted by Rich, hoping she would realize the seriousness of their relationship due to Rich's belongings scattered about. Yet, Lindo refrains from commenting on Rich. The narrative shifts to Waverly's past, her exceptional chess skills, and a conflict with Lindo over her public boasting of Waverly's abilities. Waverly stops playing chess temporarily to spite Lindo, but her plan backfires. Rather than upset Lindo, Waverly ends up regretting missing a chance to win a tournament. Upon returning to chess, Lindo's reaction is far from enthusiastic, making Waverly feel as if she's taken the game lightly. As a result, Lindo ceases to pay attention to Waverly's chess career. Waverly's confidence wanes, and she starts losing matches. At fourteen, she quits chess for good. She then talks about her first husband, Marvin, who was often criticized by Lindo. Waverly felt that Lindo's criticism directly impacted her relationship with Marvin, causing her to focus on his flaws. She worries Lindo might meddle in her relationship with Rich, which she knows would devastate him due to his unconditional love for her. Waverly decides to reveal her engagement to Lindo during a dinner at her mother's house but the announcement is postponed when Rich commits multiple social faux pas. Waverly later visits Lindo to release years of pent-up anger and resentment but ends up breaking down and crying instead. Lindo awakens and confesses that she's aware of the engagement and is surprised at Waverly's belief that she dislikes Rich. This revelation makes Waverly realize how much she's misunderstood her mother. Waverly discloses that their wedding has been postponed on Lindo's advice to plan their honeymoon in China in October. Despite expecting a joint trip with Lindo to be challenging, Waverly considers inviting her, hoping this could help mend their strained relationship.
chapter 13
Rose Hsu Jordan discovers divorce documents and a five-figure check from her soon-to-be ex-husband, Ted, in her post. Overwhelmed and hurting, she stashes them away in a drawer for a couple of weeks, uncertain of her next move. For three days, she retreats to her bed, largely unresponsive, aided by sleeping tablets. A call from An-mei rouses her, questioning why she won't stand up for herself. Shortly after, Ted rings, questioning why she hasn't signed and sent back the divorce papers. He reveals his intention to take the house, intending to wed another woman. After the shock wears off, Rose chuckles and tells him to come get his documents. When he does, Rose hands over the unsigned papers, declaring she won't be vacating the property. She adamantly refuses to let him displace her and toss her aside.
chapter 14
Prior to her passing, Suyuan prepared a Chinese New Year crab feast for ten guests. She and Jing-mei went shopping in Chinatown, where Suyuan expressed that lively crabs are the best, and even the poorest wouldn't select a dead one. Suyuan also shared her grievances about the upstairs residents of the building she owned, who blamed her for their missing cat. During the shopping trip, one of the crabs lost a leg, and Suyuan was forced to pay for it, purchasing eleven instead of the planned ten. While Suyuan prepared the crabs at home, Jing-mei struggled to witness the process. The dinner guests included the Jong family, Vincent's partner Lisa, Waverly with Rich and Shoshana, and Jing-mei's former piano teacher, Mr. Chong. Suyuan had overlooked Shoshana when purchasing the crabs, leading to an awkward situation of choosing the best remaining ones. The legless crab was left till the end, and though Jing-mei tried to claim it, Suyuan instructed her to take the better one. Suyuan then discarded her crab under the pretext of bringing additional condiments to the table. Waverly shocked Jing-mei with a comment about her gay hairstylist possibly having AIDS and suggested she consider her own expensive stylist, Mr. Rory. This comment and a dig at Jing-mei's unsuccessful career led to an argument about a freelance job Jing-mei completed for Waverly's law firm. Jing-mei stormed off to the kitchen with unshed tears. After the guests left, Suyuan joined Jing-mei in the kitchen. She revealed she didn't eat the legless crab because it was dead prior to cooking. She also chided Jing-mei for not choosing the better crab, and playfully noted that Jing-mei doesn't think like most people. She gifted Jing-mei a jade pendant, calling it her "life's importance," and advised Jing-mei to ignore Waverly's sideways comments. During Jing-mei’s recollections, she cooks for her dad and spots the tenants' tomcat alive, realizing her mother hadn't harmed it.
chapter 15
The introductory fable of the last segment shows the woman from the earlier stories interacting with her infant granddaughter. She is torn over whether to guide her granddaughter towards shedding her naiveté to prevent emotional harm, or to retain her belief in the good in people. The woman regrets having instructed her daughter (the baby's mother) to identify malevolence in others, as she fears this may lead to succumbing to one's own wickedness. When the baby starts laughing, the woman interprets this as a sign of wisdom. She refers to the baby as the "Queen Mother of the Western Skies," who has lived multiple lifetimes and returned to provide answers to her queries about evil. The woman shares a lesson with her granddaughter: it's crucial to lose innocence but retain hope and never suppress laughter. She urges the baby to pass on this lesson to her mother.
chapter 16
An-mei Hsu reflects on her daughter Rose's failing marriage and how Rose is unknowingly choosing not to stand up for herself. An-mei traces this behavior back to her own upbringing, where she learned to repress her desires and feelings. This was especially true when she was living with her uncle in Ningpo and her mother cut her own flesh to aid her dying mother, Popo. After Popo's demise, An-mei's mother planned to depart and An-mei's crying triggered a story from her mother about a turtle who ate her tears and gave her a lesson about emotional repression. As her mother planned to leave, An-mei chose to accompany her against the advice of her aunt and uncle. They travelled to Tientsin where An-mei’s mother was a concubine of a prosperous merchant, Wu Tsing. An-mei enjoyed her new surroundings until Wu Tsing brought home a new concubine, causing a downward shift in her mother's status. Wu Tsing’s wives returned as winter set in, including the powerful Second Wife who intimidated young An-mei. Second Wife gifted An-mei a fake pearl necklace, which her mother later crushed to show its true worth and gave An-mei a sapphire ring instead. An-mei learned about the complexities of Wu Tsing’s household, including First Wife's unsuccessful attempts to bear a perfect heir, Second Wife's controlling tactics, and Third Wife's inability to bear sons. An-mei’s mother was tricked into marriage with Wu Tsing under the pretext of a harmless dinner invitation by Second Wife. The deceit led to An-mei’s mother's rape by Wu Tsing, followed by a forced marriage after Second Wife publicly shamed her. She bore a son, Syaudi, who was claimed by Second Wife. Despite the promise of a separate household, their plans were thwarted by Second Wife's staged suicide. Days prior to the lunar new year, An-mei’s mother ended her life, a strategic move to strengthen An-mei's spirit and ensure her future. According to Chinese tradition, the soul returns on the third day after death for payback. Wu Tsing, afraid of her spirit's revenge, promised to honor An-mei and Syaudi as legitimate children. An-mei then confronted Second Wife with the fake pearl necklace, symbolically crushing it. It was then that she discovered her power to voice her feelings.
chapter 17
Ying-ying St. Clair observes her daughter Lena’s failing marriage with deep sorrow. She believes in her ability to foretell events, claiming she can see the clear signs of Lena's crumbling relationship, even if Lena herself can’t. Ying-ying reflects on her first marriage, a story she has kept from Lena. Raised in opulent surroundings, she was pursued by a crude, older family friend. Despite feeling repulsed, Ying-ying had a sense of destiny tying her to him. The marriage was facilitated, and she reluctantly grew to love him. She became pregnant, convinced it would be a boy due to her quasi-psychic ability. When her husband deserted her for an opera singer, revealing his adulterous nature, grief and anger led her to terminate her pregnancy. Ying-ying reveals that she was born in the year of the Tiger, possessing both the bold golden side and the sly black side of the Tiger spirit. It wasn't until her husband abandoned her that she embraced the cunning black side. She stayed with relatives for a decade before getting a job at a garment store. There she met an American trader, Clifford St. Clair, who she affectionately calls “Saint”. Saint courted Ying-ying for four years, but she awaited news of her first husband's death before considering marriage again. Unaware of her affluent upbringing, Clifford assumed she was a humble village girl. She only divulged her past after several years of marriage. The emotional toll of her first marriage reduced her to a shadow of her former self. Ying-ying decides she needs to change. She feels guilty that Lena, also a Tiger year birth, lacks the inherent spirit of her birthright. She determines to reveal her agonizing hidden past to Lena, hoping it will unleash her dormant Tiger spirit.
chapter 18
Lindo Jong reflects on her daughter, Waverly, who is organizing her wedding and preparing for a honeymoon to China with her fiance, Rich. Waverly voices her worries about seeming too Chinese and being barred from returning to America, a sentiment that leaves her upset when Lindo assures her that she'll immediately be recognized as American in China. Lindo engages in self-criticism for attempting to instill in Waverly a dual identity of being Chinese and American. She now believes such a mix is unworkable and wishes she had done more to help Waverly understand her Chinese roots. Before the wedding, Waverly brings Lindo to her upscale hairdresser, Mr. Rory. Lindo feels that Waverly does this out of embarrassment of her, an idea that is reinforced when Waverly and Mr. Rory talk about Lindo as if she isn't present. Lindo assumes a facade of calm acceptance, but internally she feels humiliation because although she is proud of Waverly, the sentiment isn't reciprocated. When Mr. Rory comments on their physical similarity, Lindo lets her genuine feelings show and contemplates their shared characteristics. She recalls a conversation with her own mother in China who had once said that Lindo's straight nose signified she was destined for good fortune. Lindo reflects on the struggles of maintaining her Chinese identity in America. In her initial years in San Francisco, she worked at a fortune-cookie factory where she met An-mei Hsu, who introduced her to her future husband, Tin Jong. During her pregnancy with Waverly, Lindo injured her nose and it became crooked which she believes somehow influenced her thought process. When Waverly was born, Lindo was taken aback by their uncanny resemblance and named her Waverly, after their street, as a symbol of her American identity. In the salon, Lindo observes that Waverly's nose is crooked like hers, despite the fact that her own distortion was accidental. Lindo suggests cosmetic surgery to Waverly, who laughs it off, expressing joy at bearing a resemblance to Lindo. Waverly feels that it makes them look mysterious, creating a challenge for others to decipher their thoughts. Lindo then ponders on their dual identities and wonders which is truly American and which is Chinese. Despite adopting the local attire and currency on a trip to China, Lindo was still identified as an American, making her question what she might have lost.
chapter 19
In the concluding narrative of The Joy Luck Club, Jing-mei gives an account of her journey to China to meet her half-sisters and completes the tale of her mother, Suyuan's life. As a young girl, Jing-mei denied her Chinese identity despite her appearances. Suyuan always maintained that being Chinese couldn't be separated from thinking and feeling Chinese. Jing-mei, experiencing China for the first time, finds truth in her mother's words. However, she remains unsure about her Chinese identity. Jing-mei then recalls how her trip originated. To avoid disappointing her sisters Chwun Yu and Chwun Hwa, she asked Lindo Jong to reveal their mother's death to them. Jing-mei and her sisters are Suyuan's only surviving relatives, the rest of Suyuan's family was killed in a Japanese bombing. Upon arrival, Jing-mei and her father, Canning Woo, are welcomed by relatives. Jing-mei is struck by the vast differences between China and America and is surprised by the affordability of their hotel. Their first meal in China is not a grand banquet as she imagined but familiar American food ordered via room service. Overnight, Jing-mei overhears her father relating Suyuan's tragic tale of the twin daughters to a relative. She then asks her father about the origins of their names and why Suyuan left the twins. During this conversation, Jing-mei insists her father tell the story in Chinese. Suyuan, exhausted and sick, had to abandon her twins during a time of war. She stashed her valuables in the baby's clothing, hoping someone would care for them and eventually bring them to her Shanghai address. She left them and later woke up in a truck with sick people, assisted by an American missionary. She later learned her husband had died and met Jing-mei's father in the hospital. Canning later discovered the twins were adopted by two Muslim peasants, who were unable to part with the children when they understood Suyuan's plea. When the adoptive father died, they were taken to the Shanghai address that was significantly transformed. In America, Suyuan had been writing to friends in China, hoping to locate her daughters. Only after her death did a former classmate recognize the twins, who looked remarkably like a young Suyuan, in a store. Canning believes it was Suyuan's spirit that led to the discovery. As Jing-mei and Canning fly to Shanghai, she worries about telling her mother's story to her sisters. Upon landing, the twins immediately recognize her from a previously sent photo. Jing-mei initially doesn't see their resemblance, but after taking a Polaroid, she sees their combined faces echo their mother's.
