Joy Luck Club
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Joy Luck Club
Plot
The eight main characters of the movie all had to contend with different types of conflicts, some such as Waverlys Mother had to endure a type of social conflict from the 1st wife and other concubines, the unjust discrimination of the husbands family, while other characters such as Mei-mei had to endure a life of living under the shadow of Waverly. But each of the characters despite having different types of conflicts be it elemental, physical or psychological, all had to endure one glaringly similar psychological conflict – Each woman had to contend with their own weaker selves, before being able to confront their respective problems, be it an abusive husband or an overbearing mother, each protagonist had to first find their self-worth, self-confidence and self respect. Upon finding their own value they managed to confront their respective problems, although not always in a successful manner, such as one of the mothers who had an abusive husband of whom she had to drown her child , but they managed to get past the tragedy and even became instrumental in helping the other characters (daughters) in finding their self-esteem. In other instances such as Mei-meis case, she did not understand her worth in her mothers eyes until she understood the tragedy that happened. Seeing that Waverly was always better she depreciated herself, but upon learning the great sacrifice made by her mother, and all the hope given to her by her mother, she finally understood her true value.
The plot of the story is simply the trials that women endure in order to become happy or fulfilled. The plot concentrates on empowering women most especially minorities, further sub-divided into two groups, the mothers who eventually surpassed the suppression of Chinese culture, and the daughters who led lives as the children of immigrants and had experience the life of an adult American female, including marital woes and parental relations. It is the story of eight women, Four of whom are the mothers not only bound by being Chinese immigrants but also bound by the hardships they had to endure in their homeland. One was a mother who had to escape the tyranny of an arranged marriage, who used superstition to gain her freedom. Another was a battered wife who had to endure the philandering and beatings of her husband before killing her own child. While another suffers from the lifestyle of her concubine mother and fighting back at the hated step-family. While the mother of the main protagonist, suffered from the trauma of leaving behind her twins in the war due to her sickness but somehow surviving the ordeal. It is through the main protagonists eye that we learn of the stories of each protagonist in her own sub-story, thus through a series of flashbacks we chip away at the personalities of each woman. The daughters plight was quite different, since each daughter was raised in America, a land of different cultures. Lena had to contend with her husbands infidelity, but through civility she managed to salvage her marriage. But Rose the daughter of the mother who had to kill her baby had to muddle through a one sided relationship, although not physically abusive, an emotionally draining one. Getting her strength from her mothers ill experience she managed to free herself from that farce and manage to find happiness with another man. Waverly constantly waging war against her mother for control over her life, from being a chess prodigy to chump, and what type of man to marry, Waverly finally understands her mothers sternness as love after finally expressing their emotions towards each other, that results in their developing a tighter relationship. Finally Mei-mei whose constantly had to live up to the standards set by Waverly, until finally learning that her Mother had left her sisters during the war, and all of their hopes and dreams were instantly transferred to her. All of the characters had a very realistic approach as to how they resolved each of their own conflicts.
Character
There are 8 main characters in the story:
The Mothers
Mei-meis mother
Consistent in her maternal love for her daughters. Full of life since she wanted survive and make her daughters happy. Realistic, is there a mother who would not love her child. Motivated to find and make her twin daughters happy. We can sympathize with her trials during the war.
Waverlys mother
Consistent in being headstrong, since it she outwitted her in-laws from her arranged marriage. Has vitality since she was dynamic in her action, and thought processes realistic since there are a lot of headstrong women out there. Motivated enough to survive without the benefit of an arranged marriage. And people can identify with her headstrong character and admire her for that.
Lenas mother
She was consistent in being the only child who loved her mother wholeheartedly. Dynamic enough to Become aware of her lot in life and make the necessary adjustments. Realistic enough that we can see that she fought back against the concubines at the time of her mothers death. Motivated to keep the honor of her mother and to find happiness for herself. We ca associate with her in her trials, more especially step-children who must find their place in a new home.
Roses mother
Consistent in seeking her own happiness which no good comes about, she found it in sex and it destroyed her. No vitality here since we see her as a hedonistic woman trapped in a troublesome marriage and a philandering husband. Unrealistic since no amount of wife beatings can force a woman to kill an innocent child. I cannot sympathize with a baby killer.
The daughters
Mei-mei
Consistent in trying not to live in her mothers pressuring shadow (and Waverlys). has enough sense to accommodate her own life and not for the sake in pleasing her mother. Realistic in the sense that the happiest people on this earth are happy with who they are, and there are truly these kinds of people around. Motivated or compelling enough that we believe that she has enough strength to give her mothers happiness to her sisters. Compassionate enough to evoke sympathy for her courage to bring the same happiness towards her friends and sisters, at the same time identify with her anguish at her mothers imposing attitude towards her