Top 4 The Joy Luck Club quotes
“In me, they see their own daughters, just as ignorant, just as unmindful of all the truths and hopes they have brought to America.”
June, Chapter 1
As soon as June tells the women of the Mahjong club that she cannot go to China to tell her step sisters about their mother, they loudly being to protest. June realizes that she has awakened them to the possibility that they may share a similarly distant relationship with their daughters.
“I had on a beautiful red dress, but what I saw was even more valuable. I was strong. I was pure. I had genuine thoughts inside that no one could see, that no one could ever take away from me.”
Lindo, Chapter 3
Lindo is forced to live as a servant with her in-laws because of the sake of her family’s honor. However she does not allow their atrocious behavior to wear her down, but she uses it to fuel her sense of self. She resolutely bears all the injustices that are heaped on her and bide for the time when she can set herself free.
“‘Who ask you be genius?’ she shouted. ‘Only ask you be your best. For you sake.’”
Suuyan, Chapter 8
The distance between Suuyan and June begins to increase when June thinks that her mother is disappointed in her for not being a prodigy like her friend’s daughter, Waverly. Suuyan tries to explain to June that she cares nothing about her being a prodigy but just wants her to find her strength for her good.
“‘She become so thin now you cannot see her,’ says my mother. ‘She like a ghost, disappear.’”
Ying-Ying St. Clair, Chapter 9
Ying-ying points out to Lena’s husband that he has never noticed that his wife does not eat the ice cream that he adds to her side of the expenses. She says that her daughter has become so thin that she is becoming a ghost, implying that she no longer speaks for herself. Lena eventually understands her mother’s meaning and stands up for herself in her marriage.
