Things I heard:

01. The relationship between June

and her mother depicted a very
deep connection.

What I thought:
June states that she felt like the
loser of the family because she
was not born that way. She felt
like she had to meet up to her
mothers expectations like her
sister, Waverly. But in the end
when both the mother and June
talked about their hearts, they
were able to understand the
complex labyrinth of the heart
between two generations.
02. Did Junes mother really
In the English language, he
expect something of June?
difference between hoping and
expecting is a very similar
concept. It is hard to differentiate
thoroughly between the two.
However in Korean, hope is
(so-mang) and expectation is (kidae). There is a clear line between the
two but understanding them and
applying it to our lives is very complex.
03. Its very saddening to know
As a child who grew up without
that the mother had no choice but her biological mother, I couldnt
to survive as a concubine; Anmei
understand why my mom left me
influenced by the family . . . It was if she loved me. Of course the
a huge mess to bring her daughter abandoned twins can resent their
to the family of the man who
mother and hold a grudge but
raped her . . . The mother of
there is always deeper meaning. I
Anmei died honorably in her terms do not understand my mom for
for the sake of her daughter.
her decisions, and even if she
doesnt have a concrete reason
why, she made her decision. My
mom is human and humans make
mistakes. That is life.
04. The mother went to her grave There is timing for everything and
without knowing that the children
everything happens for a reason.
she had had abandoned survived. That is the belief I grew up with.
Of course, Junes mother was
regretful of abandoning of her
children but life goes on. Even to
the very end she took her burdens
to her grave but with her death
her spirit goes on with June, who
later on goes to meet her long lost

05. Why didnt Junes mother tell

June the first place of the
abandoned twins?
Her mother never told anyone of
her condition and past, why?
Socratic Seminar: The Joy Luck Club

sisters.
A child can never understand the
heart of their parents until they
become a parent themselves. A
mother, before she was a mother,
was an individual with her own life
and characteristics. She has her
reasons why she did what she did.