Thoughtful Laughter In Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club
Thoughtful Laughter Amy Tan uses thoughtful laughter in her novel, The Joy Luck Club, to make a point through laughter or humor. Thoughtful laughter is effective because it grabs the attention of the reader and expresses a point, whether the reader knows it or not. One scene that provokes thoughtful laughter is in the chapter “Best Quality” while the family picks crabs to eat. When there was only two crabs left, Jing-Mei Woo tries to choose the crab with the missing leg, so her mom would have the better crab. On page 227 during the meal, Jing-Mei Woo says “That's the way Chinese mothers show they love their children, not through hugs and kisses but the stern offering of steamed dumplings, duck gizzards, and crab.” The Chinese mothers in The Joy Luck Club show affection to their daughters differently through non-obvious manners, such as showing off their daughters or giving
…show more content…
their daughters steamed crabs, rather through the American way of hugs and kisses. In the book, The Joy Luck Club, the diverse cultures between the mothers and daughters creates miscommunication, in which Amy Tan uses to incorporate thoughtful laughter to express a point. There are many qualities in the scene that makes it humorous. An example is how everyone picks the best looking crabs. So when Jing-Mei tries to pick the crab with the missing leg, so her mother would have the better one, she gets yelled out by her mother. The comical in this scene is how Jing-Mei gets criticize for being generous by taking the worst looking crab, so her mom would have the better looking one. Another comical situation in the scene is how Jing-Mei Woo says that Chinese mother show their affection to their children with “steamed dumplings, duck gizzards, and crab.” It is humorous because it is not common to show the amount of love or affection with dumplings, duck gizzards, and crabs. However, the bond between Jing-Mei Woo and her mother strengthens when Jing-Mei Woo accepts the crab. Previously in the chapter, “Best Quality”, when a crab lost one of its leg and dies, Jing-Mei Woo’s mother, Suyuan Woo, says that “Even a beggar wouldn’t eat a dead one.” On the dinner table, Suyuan insisted her daughter to take the better crab, and later threw the crab with the missing leg in the trash.
Suyuan shows love for her daughter by sacrificing her dinner to give to her daughter. The point Amy incorporates is to show the strong bond and relationship between mother and daughter. Jing-Mei attempts to give her mother the good crab. But, Suyuan refuses it and gives the crab back to her daughter. Despite their past differences (with the piano lessons), they manage to have a strong relationship. Jing-Mei would always be Suyuan’s daughter, even through turmoil, and whatever decisions Jing-Mei or Suyuan makes will affect the other. This is their “Best Quality”, the relationship of mother and daughter. Amy tan stresses the importance between mother and daughter’s relationship because the mother wants what’s best for their daughter, due to the harsh lives they had when they were young
adults. Amy Tan uses thoughtful laughter to stress the importance of the relationship between mother and daughter. However, the cultural gap between the mothers and daughters make it difficult for them to communicate. The mothers try to set dreams or goals that are too high for their daughters. During the childhood and teen years of the daughters, they try to express their individuality through rebellion and neglecting their Chinese culture. Suyuan’s way of expressing her love for her daughter is to expect much from her daughter in order to ensure her daughter a good and prosperous life, unlike her own life back in China. Although it creates tension between the two and Jing-Mei snaps at her mother. However, as the novel progresses and the daughters become mature and more familiar with their mothers, the daughters slowly become like their mothers. Jing-Mei Woo tries to express her individually from her mother, but finally realizes she is like her mother when she meets her half-sisters. Jing-Mei says “Together we look like our mother. Her same eyes, her same mouth, open in surprise to see, at last, her long-cherished wish.”
their daughters steamed crabs, rather through the American way of hugs and kisses. In the book, The Joy Luck Club, the diverse cultures between the mothers and daughters creates miscommunication, in which Amy Tan uses to incorporate thoughtful laughter to express a point. There are many qualities in the scene that makes it humorous. An example is how everyone picks the best looking crabs. So when Jing-Mei tries to pick the crab with the missing leg, so her mother would have the better one, she gets yelled out by her mother. The comical in this scene is how Jing-Mei gets criticize for being generous by taking the worst looking crab, so her mom would have the better looking one. Another comical situation in the scene is how Jing-Mei Woo says that Chinese mother show their affection to their children with “steamed dumplings, duck gizzards, and crab.” It is humorous because it is not common to show the amount of love or affection with dumplings, duck gizzards, and crabs. However, the bond between Jing-Mei Woo and her mother strengthens when Jing-Mei Woo accepts the crab. Previously in the chapter, “Best Quality”, when a crab lost one of its leg and dies, Jing-Mei Woo’s mother, Suyuan Woo, says that “Even a beggar wouldn’t eat a dead one.” On the dinner table, Suyuan insisted her daughter to take the better crab, and later threw the crab with the missing leg in the trash.
Suyuan shows love for her daughter by sacrificing her dinner to give to her daughter. The point Amy incorporates is to show the strong bond and relationship between mother and daughter. Jing-Mei attempts to give her mother the good crab. But, Suyuan refuses it and gives the crab back to her daughter. Despite their past differences (with the piano lessons), they manage to have a strong relationship. Jing-Mei would always be Suyuan’s daughter, even through turmoil, and whatever decisions Jing-Mei or Suyuan makes will affect the other. This is their “Best Quality”, the relationship of mother and daughter. Amy tan stresses the importance between mother and daughter’s relationship because the mother wants what’s best for their daughter, due to the harsh lives they had when they were young
adults. Amy Tan uses thoughtful laughter to stress the importance of the relationship between mother and daughter. However, the cultural gap between the mothers and daughters make it difficult for them to communicate. The mothers try to set dreams or goals that are too high for their daughters. During the childhood and teen years of the daughters, they try to express their individuality through rebellion and neglecting their Chinese culture. Suyuan’s way of expressing her love for her daughter is to expect much from her daughter in order to ensure her daughter a good and prosperous life, unlike her own life back in China. Although it creates tension between the two and Jing-Mei snaps at her mother. However, as the novel progresses and the daughters become mature and more familiar with their mothers, the daughters slowly become like their mothers. Jing-Mei Woo tries to express her individually from her mother, but finally realizes she is like her mother when she meets her half-sisters. Jing-Mei says “Together we look like our mother. Her same eyes, her same mouth, open in surprise to see, at last, her long-cherished wish.”