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!

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.
- Throughout the chapter, Ying-Ying develops from a strong, independent, and entitled
young girl to a broken, wounded spirit. Ying-Ying’s starts off as an entitled young girl.
This is displayed when she reveals that when she was younger she “was too vain” and
never thought any “boy was good enough” for her (245). This displays her fierceness and
independence from when she was a young girl. She knew what she wanted and would not
settle for anything less then the best. She was arrogant and knew her worth. She knows
that she As the chapter continues we see Ying Ying begin to change. She “was rich and
pretty” and “too good for anyone man” (246). However as the chapter progresses the
audience begins to notice a change in Ying-Ying. Her arrogance dissipates and she
becomes “pale, ill, and more thin” (251). She loses all of her strength as she grows older.
She no longer has her confidence and faith in herself. Her ability to know things has
destroyed her. The audience also is given insight to the evolution of the tiger sign which
also helps to emphasize the character development of Ying-Ying. Early in the chapter
Ying-Ying is characterized as having “tiger eyes” that “gather fire in the day” and “shine
golden” in the night (246). This helps to display her fierceness and dominance over
everyone. She is beautiful and strong. However she does not stay that way for long. By
the end of the chapter she has turned into a “tiger ghost” and given up her chi, “the spirit
that caused [her] so much pain (251). Thsi shows how although she was strong and
independent when she was younger, it does not mean that she was happy. She was
arrogant about being pretty, but in a way that arrogance was just a way to conceal her
suffering. Through the character development of Ying-Ying Tan reveals that outside
appearance and material items do not always lead to happiness and success in life.

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 show how sometimes the past needs to
be exposed in order to finally let go and feel free. This is displayed throughout the
chapter because Ying-Ying reveals that she is finally going to tell her daughter, Lena, her
past. She does this because she wants to leave her spirit with her daughter. She wants to
use the pain of the past to “penetrate [her] daughter’s tough skin and cut her tiger spirit
 loose” (252). Since Ying-Ying had given up her chi, she was unable to pass it onto her
daughter. This saddens her greatly, so she wants to find a way to help her discover her chi
and her tiger spirit. The purpose for er narration is to try to show her daughter what she
has been through and why she was unable to pass on her chi. The audience can also make
a connection to the chapter title when Ying -Ying reveals that her daughters “eyes will
see nothing in the darkness, where [she is] waiting between the trees” (252). The trees are
a metaphor for Ling-Ling and Lena. SInce Ying-Ying is between the trees it shows how
she was willing to do her part which is telling Lena about her past. SInce she is waiting
between the trees it symbolizes how Ying-Ying is trying to meet Lena half way. Now it is
just up to Lena to decide if she wants to make the effort to retrieve her chi. They both
have to meet eachother half way. Through this display and narration, Tan reveals how a
mutual effort is needed between two people in order to accomplish a goal.

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. One meaning of the chapter title “Double Face” is that people thar immigrate to America
have two faces. One from their origional culture and one they display to try to fit into the
new country. This is displayed when Lindo states that she “smile[s]” and uses her
“American face” (255). This reveals how she tries to fit in with society so that she does
not look like an outsider. However this does not work because people still think her
American face is her Chinese face. The faces are a reference to the two different tyes of
culture and way of cating in the different countries. This shows how Chinese immigrants
are forced to supress their culture to try to not feel alienated in American society. Lindo
also says that “its hard to keep your chinese face in America” (258). This is because she
was suppressing her Chinese side so much and she was forgetting who she was and
where she came from. She felt as if she “had to hide [her] true self” (258). This is a major
problem with many immigrants. They come to a place expecting that they will be happy
and be able to be themselves. But then as they become more accustomed to the country
they become ‘americaized’ and begin to lose their culture and their identity. Through
Lindo and the chapter title, Tan reveals how immigrants are forced to have two faces
when becomming accustomed to a country and usually the American face become more
dominant then the chinese face and they begin to lose themselves and who they are. They
feel lost.

B. Another meaning to the chapter title “Two Faced” is that peoples actions and what they
say do not match up. They say one thing and choose to do the other. This is displayed
through Lindo and Waverly. They are devious and Waverly states that they are always
“looking one way, while following another” and “mean[ing] what [they] say, but [their]
intentions are different” (266). Since they feel as if they have no identity, they never
know what side to be on. OS they may say one thing and then do another. Some may say
they are being two faced, but in reality, they just don’t know what to do. At the end of the
chapter, Waverly states that people “just know [they]’re two faced” (266). People may
assume this because they are Chinese and they are known for listening to those around
them and not having a backbone. They may be seen as two-faced because they try to
please everyone and in turn go against their word or what other told them to do. Overall,
Tan utilizes the chapter meaning of the chapter title to show how many Chinese
immigrants are seen as two faced because their actions contradict their words and they try
to please everyone and seem as if they are going behind other backs in the process.