The Mother/ Daughter Conflict within the "Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

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The character conflict pattern that I chose to follow was that of Suyuan Woo and her daughter Jing- Mei Woo. One of the conflicts displayed between the two was that they didn’t really know one another. They lacked the necessary communication needed to create a relationship of understanding. This may have been partly due to the lack of understanding the generational differences between the two women. In chapter one this is kind of made evident when her father asks her to replace her mothers seat at the “Mahjong Table”. Although this request excited her a little she still came to the realization in the film that she really didn’t feel that she knew her mother at all.

Another conflict between the two was Suyuan trying to force Jing- Mei into becoming someone that she wasn’t and frankly didn’t want to be. This was evident in the chapter entitled: Two of a Kind, in which Jing- Mei’s mother tries to force her into becoming this grand musical prodigy. Jing- Mei could not understand why her mother was trying to impose this life style on her and therefore she developed this hatred for her.

An additional conflict was that Jing- Mei didn’t have an understanding of her family heritage and she had a lack of respect for it in the beginning. She always settled for less and therefore never strived for the best quality in anything. This was made evident in the scene of the dinner table when Jing- Mei’s mother prepared a platter of crab for the meal and Jing- Mei was the only one willing to reach for and accept the deformed crab. While all of the other guests choose the best of quality even her blind, old piano instructor still choose one of the best quality crabs.

Finally, although Suyuan was unable to see her self worth as a mother for Jing- Mei she was still able to leave her daughter with an understanding of her history and the heritage behind her treatment of her daughter. Jing- Mei was able to stand in her mother’s place with her head held high because she was now able to pass this heritage on to her sisters in China.