Life's Truths
The Immigrants Journey
Writing Prompt #1
My favorite parable in The Joy Luck Club was "Feathers From a Thousand Li Away," because it personifies the ability to achieve anything. In the parable, the bird wished to become a duck, but his wish was exceeded and he became a swan. The parable reminded me I can accomplish all that I dream. Similarly to the bird, I believe everyone can become "a creature that became more than what was hoped for" (Tan 17).
Writing Prompt #2
If I were to read about another mother and daughter pair in the novel, I would chose the Hsu family. The relationship between An-Mei and her mother seems very compelling and interesting, given the many family hardships they endured. An-Mei’s mother committed suicide to ensure An-Mei happiness. The love and commitment to a child seems almost impossible to comprehend.
Writing Prompt #3
In the chapter, “The Moon Lady,” included a powerful quote which truly touched me. “And I want to tell her this: We are lost, she and I, unseen and not seeing, unheard and not hearing, unknown by others” (Tan 67). I appreciated this quote stated by Ying-Ying St. Clair because of the depth and the imagery contained in her message. The reference to being unseen conjures an image of the struggle some children face as they seek to be acknowledged, and recognized in their everyday life.
Thematic Paragraph
In The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan presents the idea that perseverance toward the achievement of a personal objective, regardless of the difficult obstacles, is required. Lena St. Clair’s difficult marriage caused her to have “that feeling of fear” that led her to believe the marriage may fail (Tan 156). Lena gained knowledge from her mother when she wonders “why you don’t stop it” as the marriage first began to breakdown (Tan 165). One can see a shift in Lena’s emotion as she begins to stand up for herself in her life. Although the novel never reveals the outcome of Lena’s marriage, she began to understand the necessity of perseverance.