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Waverly's Relationship In The Joy Luck Club

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In the novel The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan tells the story of four Chinese mothers who immigrated to America in hopes of living the “American dream”. Through reading about each relationship, one can see how culture, personalities, and history can play a part in their bond with their daughters, positively and negatively. For example, Lindo and her daughter Waverly Jong have traits that contribute to their unhealthy mother-daughter relationship that is filled with conflict. When it comes to sharing her opinion, Lindo can be quite honest but at the same time wants Waverly to admire her. While Waverly is often irritable and sensitive and sees Lindo as an opponent, constantly trying to attack her. These different personality traits mixed with Lindo’s …show more content…

She wanted to raise Waverly with Chinese circumstances, which means not always serving out tons of compliments and love every time she sees her. It means teaching her to respect authority, just like her own mother had done. One day Waverly seeks Lindo’s approval on a new jacket Rich bought her. This is part of her plan to force Lindo to accept her and Rich are developing a serious relationship by living together and buying each other fancy gifts. She also wants Rich to win Lindo over and seems to think showing Lindo an expensive jacket he gave her will do just that. Instead, Lindo decides to give Waverly her real opinion on the jacket and says, “this is not so good. It is just leftover strips. And the fur is too short, no long hairs” (169). Waverly is shocked that her mother would say so about a gift and although Lindo was talking about the jacket, it seems Waverly took the comment as if it was directed at Rich. This is a time when Lindo’s will to have an honest relationship with her daughter can stop her from forming a loving one. When it comes to approving a husband for Waverly, it is evident Lindo cares more about his character than his gifts. This means he must have a good job, well manners, and take care of Waverly and her daughter Shoshana. Lindo should see in this present that it is a symbol of how much Rich loves her daughter and shows he takes good care of

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