Parental Expectations In Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club

Ladders are objects most often associated with ascending. The fact that, one can come down on it, is often overlooked. Parental expectations are like the rungs on a ladder; every rung is a standard meant to be attained. Failure to meet these standards may lower the expectations set. Parents set benchmarks for their children hoping to guide them towards a bright future, with an understanding of their child’s capabilities. Every parent wants their child to do well in life and will do everything in their power to realize that promising future. For some, their child symbolizes achievement. Through their children, parents want to achieve goals they never could, so, they scold and advice their kids to reach there. Years of experience made them knowledgeable about life and its ways. Parents try to convey these lessons learned to their children, so that their children benefit from them, excel, and become greater than them. Parents place expectations as markers on the path they want their child to take, to have a better tomorrow.
From crib to crypt, they are influenced by countless factors and their child’s achievements. In “The Joy Luck Club”, Suyuan expected great things from June, as a child. As June grew older and her personality and attitudes changed, Suyuan’s standards did too. She no longer thought of her child as a prodigy, but rather, another commonplace girl. This shows how parents observe their kids and evaluate what they are now and what they can be. Parents. Understanding. Expectations. Three words that go hand in hand when describing a child’s future. Parents set expectations as a framework for their child to follow, based on their understanding of the child. They want their kid to surpass one and all and this is the means to that