Generations are like advancing technology. They continuously evolve and build upon themselves. As generations rise and fall, their history follows and unfolds for the next generation. This then gives birth to character, the synthesis of human genetics and growth of unique personality through life experiences. Generations and character are both prominent themes in the novel, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. The four mothers in the novel represent the older, Chinese traditional generation and their four daughters represent the new Chinese-infused American generation. Although some might argue that the daughter’s resistance to her mother’s influence was significant enough to break the link of passing on character, the mother’s influence is still
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When Waverly became a renowned chess prodigy and champion, the way her mother acted bothered Waverly over time. Waverly accompanied Lindo to the supermarket. Lindo was indirectly flaunting her “face”, or image, but acting humble. This is seen in traditional Chinese confucianism coming from the elder generation. Waverly disliked her mother’s showing off and fake attitude but when she pointed this out, Lindo misinterpreted. “‘ I wish you wouldn 't do that, telling everybody I’m your daughter,’...’Aiii-ya. So shame be with mother?’...’It’s not that, it’s just so obvious.’...’Embarrass you be my daughter?’ Her voice cracking with anger.” (Tan, 101) This conversation supposedly shows how Lindo and Waverly did not share similar character and therefore the mother did not pass on their strength of character to the daughter. They were misinterpreting each other and didn’t see what the other saw. The language and generation barrier seemingly did not significantly demonstrate how Lindo passed on her character traits to Waverly. After, Waverly talks back to her mother and steams away. “‘Why do you have to use me to show off? If you want to show off, then why don’t you learn to play chess?’” (Tan, 101) Lindo was taught to follow her mother’s wishes and go through her promise, even if she wasn’t quite happy with it ever since she agreed to marry Tyan-yu. On the other hand, Waverly outright defied her mother. She did not want to be influenced by her mother and clearly drew the line between their
When Waverly became a renowned chess prodigy and champion, the way her mother acted bothered Waverly over time. Waverly accompanied Lindo to the supermarket. Lindo was indirectly flaunting her “face”, or image, but acting humble. This is seen in traditional Chinese confucianism coming from the elder generation. Waverly disliked her mother’s showing off and fake attitude but when she pointed this out, Lindo misinterpreted. “‘ I wish you wouldn 't do that, telling everybody I’m your daughter,’...’Aiii-ya. So shame be with mother?’...’It’s not that, it’s just so obvious.’...’Embarrass you be my daughter?’ Her voice cracking with anger.” (Tan, 101) This conversation supposedly shows how Lindo and Waverly did not share similar character and therefore the mother did not pass on their strength of character to the daughter. They were misinterpreting each other and didn’t see what the other saw. The language and generation barrier seemingly did not significantly demonstrate how Lindo passed on her character traits to Waverly. After, Waverly talks back to her mother and steams away. “‘Why do you have to use me to show off? If you want to show off, then why don’t you learn to play chess?’” (Tan, 101) Lindo was taught to follow her mother’s wishes and go through her promise, even if she wasn’t quite happy with it ever since she agreed to marry Tyan-yu. On the other hand, Waverly outright defied her mother. She did not want to be influenced by her mother and clearly drew the line between their