Exploration of the Past
By Gabby Hall
The Twenty-Six Malignant Gates
This was my favorite of the four parables because it reveals the consequences of not listening to your mother. Although the mother warns her daughter to not ride her bicycle out of her view, her daughter proceeds to do just that in defiance. The young girl also does not believe her mother when she tells her about The Twenty-Six Malignant Gates, a book that warns mothers about "all the bad things that can happen... outside the protection of this house," so she falls as she hurries to get away (Tan 87).
Lindo and Waverly Jong
If I were to read another mother and daughter pair, it would be the story of Lindo and Waverly Jong. Lindo helps her daughter become a child chess prodigy, but once her peers learn of her daughter's talent, Lindo starts to brag on her daughter and take the credit for herself. Once a healthy and happy family relationship, Waverly starts to resent her mother and quits playing chess as a result. Lindo had a preconceived idea of how she wanted her daughter to be, but Waverly wanted to retain her own identity.
A Quote from the Novel
"'A girl is like a young tree,' she said. 'You must stand tall and listen to your mother standing next to you. That is the only way to grow strong and straight. But if you bend to listen to other people, you will grow crooked and weak'" (Tan 191). This quote is significant to me because the lesson applies to my life. I have realized that listening to other people's opinions will not make yourself more successful, and the only opinion you can really trust is your mother's opinion.
Thematic Paragraph
In The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan presents the idea that respect is necessary in a familial relationship although it can be a challenge at times. This is especially evident in the case of the Hsu family. An-Mei describes her childhood in China as the daughter of a concubine. Although she has trouble accepting that her mother's status, she learns that "this is how a daughter honors her mother. It is shou so deep it is in your bones" (Tan 48). An-Mei learns to always show shou, meaning respect, towards her family because it is necessary to maintain a loving relationship with them.