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Narrator

Introduction

The narrator is the person in a novel who weaves his/her own point of view. The narrator can either be in first person or third person and if in third person they can be omniscient. In the Joy Luck club, Amy Tan writes the novel in such a way so that several people take turns being the narrator so that the reader can fully understand the story.

What would the novel be like if it were told entirely from the perspective our this character?

The reader would not be able to understand what other characters thought of the narrator, and hence the reader would not be able to learn as much. "And if I hadn't felt so bad, I would have pulled her braids and punched her in the stomach" (Two Kinds page 140).

Based on our characters virtues and weaknesses, what qualities should the author focus on to make this version of the novel work?

She believes that by seeing through her american eye, meaning that being successful and wealthy will bring her happiness, yet through her chinese eye, she is able to find happiness through her parent's traditions. "'You never want to talk about him. The other day... you started talking about dad...' 'What is more important explore fun or explore sickness?' " (Four Directions page 181).

What advantages does Tan gain be creating a series of narrators rather than a single one?

Tan gets an advantage in the sense that all the women can share their personal feelings and through this we can learn different lessons from each woman, as well as how the stories relate. "Why do you always tell people that I met your father in the Cathey House, that I broke open a fortune cookie and it said that I would marry and handsome stranger, and when I looked up there he was, the waiter, your father" (Double Face page 259).

Character Development

Introduction

Dynamic characters undergo a series of challenges that leave them changed for the better in the end. All characters have strengths and weaknesses that affect these challenges. Waverly transforms throughout the story and learns many valuable lessons throughout the process.

What is our character's primary motivations, strength, and weaknesses?

Waverly is motivated to prove to her mother that Rich is worthy of being in their lives. Though Waverly has strength in quick thinking, when it comes to her mother she is hardly capable of forming an actual sentence or standing up to her. She isn't able to make her see things she doesn't want to see. "Nothing's happened. Nothing's the matter. I don't know why I'm here...I wanted to tell you...Rich and I are getting married." (Four Directions, page 181).

In what way did our character undergo change?

Waverly has changed a lot throughout the story and is beginning to understand her own mother. "You think I have a secret meaning. But it is you who has this meaning!" (Four Directions, page 181). Waverly believed that her mother had secret intentions of making her pick out the bad in everything. When confronted about this, Mrs. Jong tells Waverly that she never had any negative motivations. Waverly understands this and sees that her mother has put their differences aside.

What characteristics were she unable to change? Why?

From June's perspective, Waverly has always been sneaky and rude since she was little until adulthood. This something that has not changed for her. "She could be so sneaky with her insults..." (Best Quality, page 204). June recounts how sneaky and manipulative Waverly can be, a skill that she probably acquired from playing chess for so many years. This characteristic of hers has been with her for many years.

Protagonist

Introduction

The protagonist is the main character in a novel who overcomes a weakness or ignorance to achieve a new understanding by the end of the work. The protagonist can either be an anti hero or a regular hero. The protagonist overall has to overcome a struggle. The main troublemaker is the antagonist. They need to be overcome so that the protagonist can achieve peace with themselves and the world around them.

What kind of antagonistic forces does your character encounter?

The main antagonistic force Waverly encounters is with her mother. They are always bumping heads and disagreeing on something. "My mother knows how to hit a nerve. And the pain I feel is worse than any other kind of misery" (Four Directions, page 170).

Cultural traditions? Social Prejudice?

Waverly doesn't bother with her chinese cultural traditions because she was raised American. "All those years I tried to teach her! She followed my Chinese ways only until she learned how to walk out the door by herself and go to school"(Double Face, page 253). She doesn't find it relevant to her life. Everyone else acts American so she follows that too.

Conflict? Racial or gender discrimination?

A conflict she goes through is she is scared that her mothers opinion about Rich will change her mind about him like what happened with her first husband, Marvin. "By the time my mother had her say about him, i saw his brain had shrunk from laziness, so that it was good only for thinking up excuses" (Four Directions, page 174). Waverly doesn't go through any racial discrimination but she acts that way toward Rich. "Rich was not only not Chinese, he was a few years younger than I was... 'so many spots on his face,' she said." (Four Directions, page 177).

Is there any sense that your character is fighting against the same thing as another character?

All the the daughters in the book are having some sort of marital issue. Waverly is getting married but is scared to tell her mother; Rose is getting a divorce; Lena and her husband are having financial arguments; Jing-Mei is still single. "I gave up the idea that there would ever be a good time to tell her the news: that Rich Schields and I are getting married"(Four Directions, page 167).

Symbolism

Introduction

Symbols are important to any text. Story telling relies on symbols to convey many meanings that can be interpreted by the reader from experience. Often found in the title, the symbols can overview the story. Everything can be linked back to the title's symbolism through other symbols.

What symbols have been associated with your character? List the symbols and their meanings. List the pages/stories that are evident.

The chess board and all the pieces are Waverly's life. Her mother seems to be manipulative, moving all Waverly's thoughts/game pieces to different places. "The pawns can only move forward one step... but they can only take men by moving cross ways" (Rules of the Game, page 93).

Waverly picks the best crabs for herself because she always picks the best of everything. When the mink coat isn't the best quality, she isn't happy with it. "Waverly was the first and she picked the best crab... she had learned this skill, of choosing the best..." (Best Quality, page 202).

The life savers are her way of showing her gains and losses in chess. This also shows her favor with her mother on how often she wins. "I lost many games and many life savors" (Rules of the Game, page 95).

How would we interpret these symbols today?

The reader may interpret the chessboard as something that still happens today, same with the crabs. People try to control others like they are in a game, specifically chess. Picking the best for yourself happens here and in china, but it is most polite to give others the best before yourself. The chess board means to Waverly more than what it would mean to an American person who does not understand the symbolism.

Waverly changes through the story almost entirely through her mother's influence. As a child she was a chess prodigy and became arrogant from her mother's praise. She "...no longer visited the playground where the...old men gathered" ( Rules of the Game, Page 98). Her mother always responded "...with proper Chinese humility..." (Rules of the Game, Page 96). Waverly wanted to fit in to American culture but her mother was forcing Chinese traditions on her. As a result she rebelled. Her blatant refusal of culture caused her mother to be silent for many years. She thought she had heard the last of it; she was wrong. Her mother knew how to get her to understand as an adult due to her more mature perspective of the world. Waverly is still hesitant to embrace the culture completely but tries to respect the struggles her mother has gone trough and how it is a part of her life too.

Thesis

Waverly Jong can relate to the reader and is important to the story because she learns to understand her parent's teaching in relation to their culture as well as learning not to be embarrassed by her parent's traditional ways.

Waverly Jong

Waverly's house symbolizes her rebellion from her mothers old ways and teachings. "and so i watched her, seeing her reaction to the changes in my apartment- from the pristine habitat i had after the divorce... to the present chaos, a house full of life and love" (Four Directions, page 168).

Her high standards for people and herself. "... but where that short bank used to be, now there is a tall building, fifty stories high, where you and your husband-to-be work and look down on everybody" (Double Face, page 260).

Dynamic character

Round Character

We know a lot about Waverly from her eyes as well as her family and friends explanations of her making her round. "She could be so sneaky with her insults... she could turn the conversation around and make it seem as if I were cheap." (Jing-Mei's description. Best Quality page 204)

Waverly learns that her mom is more excepting of her American ways than she had originally thought. She is dynamic because of her understanding and change in character. "The three of us. Leaving our differences behind... moving west to reach east" (Four Directions page184).

What we hope you learn from Waverly and this presentation.

1. Your parents aren't as bad as they seem and they can show their understanding and love for you in strange ways.

2. You shouldn't be embarrassed by your parents because it can hinder your understanding of their meanings and traditions.

3. No matter what, your parents will always be a part of you and your life.

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