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.
At the beginning of the chapter Ying-Ying’s characterization is portrayed as strong and
determined. When mocked by the man she would marry she described herself as “f[ighting] his
eyes with [hers]” and holding her “nose high” showing her confidence in her “tiger eyes” (279).
This quickly changes after her marriage when her husband leaves her for another girl and her
previously prideful attitude changes into “loathing despair” (281). It brought shame onto her,
something that she never had experienced before. Unfortunately this followed her throughout her
life as she met her second husband and was no longer a “tiger who pounced nor lay waiting
between the trees” and “had no spirit” (285).
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 herself and her daughter how to regain
their strength and tiger characteristics. Much like her daughter, Ying-Ying had become an
“unseen spirit”and “did not care” about anything (285). Ying-Ying tells her story to get her
“fierceness” back and to also help her daughter “cut her tiger spirit loose” in order for both of
them to get back their power (286).
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 theme of the chapter’s title is the disconnect between the appearance of their chinese
features and their americanized traits that they hold within. Lindo notices this within her
daughter and her “skin and hair are Chinese” but inside she is “all American-made”
(288). This is also shown in Lindo as her exposure in America caused changes in her own
characteristics as her previous features showed “respect” and “do not look down in
shame” (292). This changed as her “eyes began to follow the American way” not only
causing changes in her appearance but also in herself (292). Lindo can clearly see these
differences and how they separate people in China and those that have immigrated to
America.
B. Another theme that Tan presents is the disguise Lindo uses to shift her face from Chinese
to American. When Waverly takes her mother to get her hair done, Lindo often has to
switch from her genuine face to her “American face” which others “cannot understand”
in order to hide her true emotions (290). Her daughter also manifests this as she admires
her “crooked” nose for making them both look “devious” and as if their “intentions are
different “ from what they say (302, 303). This shows how both Waverly and Lindo use
their double face to disguise what they truly want in order to deceive others.
