Joy Luck Club: Rose's Strength Is Reborn
Rose’s Strength Is Reborn
Rose Hsu is overcome by humility and loses herself in the shadow of her husband Ted Jordan physically making herself beneath him instead of acting as an equal in their marriage. After witnessing Ted confront his mother at a public gathering with high social standing guests Rose subconsciously creates an image of Ted as some type of angelic perfection.
“I wasn't sorry what his mother did. How else would I have known, if he hadn't rescued me... how wonderful he was? That he loved me.” —Rose Jordan— As Rose spends more and more time in her relationship with the seemingly perfect Ted Jordan her strength dwindles. Rose starts to show signs that she is beneath Ted such as when he spills his wine at a party Rose does not even hesitate to clean it up on her knees before him. This scene depicts where Rose stands in her marriage, they are not equals at least to Rose they are not, it is as though she is not worthy or perfect enough for Ted and his perfection. She begins to convince herself that all that mattered was Ted and his happiness that as long as he was content so was she. This mindset of being the supportive silent wife takes its toll on Rose as she begins to make a habit of putting Ted first.
“The beautiful part was, he never had to ask for any of this. In fact, he never even knew. I told myself that was the selfless way, the loving way, instead of the chickenshit way.” —Rose Jordan—
Thus without questioning or even being asked of her, Rose let her voice go unheard and concentrated on keeping this “perfect man” satisfied and happy like a reversed Cinderella. By telling her mother’s story to her daughter, An Mei rekindles the lost strength in Rose. In short An Mei’s mother was forced to become Wu Tsing’s fourth wife in China and believes that she has no other choice because she is only worthy of a fourth wife title. The thought of her child, the daughter of a first wife, growing up in a home where she will be looked down on
Rose Hsu is overcome by humility and loses herself in the shadow of her husband Ted Jordan physically making herself beneath him instead of acting as an equal in their marriage. After witnessing Ted confront his mother at a public gathering with high social standing guests Rose subconsciously creates an image of Ted as some type of angelic perfection.
“I wasn't sorry what his mother did. How else would I have known, if he hadn't rescued me... how wonderful he was? That he loved me.” —Rose Jordan— As Rose spends more and more time in her relationship with the seemingly perfect Ted Jordan her strength dwindles. Rose starts to show signs that she is beneath Ted such as when he spills his wine at a party Rose does not even hesitate to clean it up on her knees before him. This scene depicts where Rose stands in her marriage, they are not equals at least to Rose they are not, it is as though she is not worthy or perfect enough for Ted and his perfection. She begins to convince herself that all that mattered was Ted and his happiness that as long as he was content so was she. This mindset of being the supportive silent wife takes its toll on Rose as she begins to make a habit of putting Ted first.
“The beautiful part was, he never had to ask for any of this. In fact, he never even knew. I told myself that was the selfless way, the loving way, instead of the chickenshit way.” —Rose Jordan—
Thus without questioning or even being asked of her, Rose let her voice go unheard and concentrated on keeping this “perfect man” satisfied and happy like a reversed Cinderella. By telling her mother’s story to her daughter, An Mei rekindles the lost strength in Rose. In short An Mei’s mother was forced to become Wu Tsing’s fourth wife in China and believes that she has no other choice because she is only worthy of a fourth wife title. The thought of her child, the daughter of a first wife, growing up in a home where she will be looked down on