The Joy Luck Club

St. Clair: Waiting Between the Trees & Jong: Double Face

Directions: As you read through the chapters, annotate the text for germane themes, craft, and
global issues. Then, answer each of the following questions in at least 3-4 concise sentences,
making sure to include a proper citation for ALL quotes.

PLEASE DO NOT RESEARCH THESE ONLINE!

CHALLENGE YOUR INTELLECT AND DO THE WORK YOURSELF!

Chapter 14: St. Clair: Waiting Between the Trees

1. Examine Ying-ying’s character development throughout the chapter, including the evolution of
her tiger sign, using at least three direct quotes for support.
In the beginning, Ying-Ying depicts that she ¨was a wild girl, but [she] was innocent” and naive
to her surroundings ( Tan 277). She married at the age of sixteen and her husband was able to
manipulate her into becoming a stranger to herself and doing things that she ¨knew would please
him¨ (Tan 280). Ying-Ying slowly started to gain courage and once she discovered that he was
having an affair she aborted their son because she “came to hate [her husband] so much”, her
body “flowed with terrible revenge” after doing so (Tan 281). The strength she gained by
aborting her baby demonstrates that she wasn't being manipulated anymore and was liberated
from the marriage because she didn't learn to use her “black side until after the bad man left” her
(Tan 282). This helped her become fierce and attentive to her surroundings, just like a tiger.

2. Discuss Ying-ying’s purpose in narrating this story, making a connection to the title of the
chapter. Support your analysis with at least two direct quotes.
Ying-Ying´s purpose in narrating this story is to share that she conceals her strength, but always
carries it with her. Ying-Ying continuously depicts that the people around her perceive her in
various and different manners. For example, when Lena looks at her she sees “a small old lady”,
but Ying-Ying expresses that if “she had chumming”, inside knowledge of things, “she would see
a tiger lady” (Tan 281). Ying-Ying is incredibly secretive, her daughter and husband know
nothing about her past, she hides her “gold between trees”, but does this in order to protect
herself (Tan 282). When she feels the need to display and reveal her strength, she reveals it in an
obscured way. She knows things before they happen, she purposely pushes the table, so Lena
will come in and realize the inequality in her relationship with Harold meanwhile Ying-ying is
¨waiting between the trees” (Tan 286). Ying-Ying does this so Lena won't have to encounter the
same problems and experiences she had to go through, and although she conceals her true nature,
she ultimately wants to share them with her daughter.

Chapter 15: Jong: Double Face

3. Thoroughly explore BOTH meanings behind the chapter title, “Double Face.” Specify Tan’s
main theme for each meaning and provide at least two quotes and ample analysis for each
response:

A. Lindo Jong deliberately expresses how Waverly has a double face when it comes to her
Chinese culture. Waverly wants to visit China for her honeymoon but is frightened that
she will blend in and others will think she is one of them. Lindo reassures that ¨they
already know [she is] an outsider¨ (Tan 287). Lindo reveals that ¨ten years ago, [Waverly]
would have clapped her hands, because she despised being viewed as Chinese (Tan 287).
Now that Waverly is older and attempts to impress everyone, she wants to be included
into her culture, she wants to be Chinese, [because] it is so fashionable¨ (Tan 287). Tan
reveals that the children of immigrants often feel ashamed about their appearance and
culture, but as soon as it is seen as popular, they begin to embrace it which reveals their
¨two face¨ mindset and attitude towards their culture and hertiage.

B. Throughout the chapter, Lindo reveals that she has a double face in America and China.
Since Waverly is having her wedding, she wants her mother to look her best and takes her
to a beauty parlor. As she is getting her hair done Mr Rory, the hairdresser, ¨thinks [she]
do[es] not understand English¨ so Waverly decides to translate, despite Lindo
understanding everything they say (Tan 289). Lindo indicates that when she is in a
situation with Americans, she uses her American face, the face that ¨Americans think is
Chinese, the one they cannot understand¨ (Tan 290). Ironically, when Lindo goes and
visits China, she becomes aware and the fact that ¨they knew [her] face was not one
hundred percent Chinese”(Tan 303). In America, Lindo Jong is seen as Chinese, but in
China she is seen as America, revealing that she feels displaced and excluded. She has
tried hard to fit into other cultures and places, but both reject her and perceive her as the
complete opposite, leaving her with a ¨double face¨.