JLC Cycle

Throughout Joy Luck Club, the biggest cycle I have seen throughout is the art of storytelling. The mothers of the book tell their daughters many varieties of stories; this is started because many of them had imperfect communication skills great enough to communicate with their daughters effectively. Because of this, they told stories to them, including themes of education, warnings, and success. They also wanted to make sure their daughters did not forget their heritage. These stories were passed on to their daughter and gave them a sense of identity and shaped their fate.

"I wanted my children to have the best combination: American circumstances and Chinese character. How could I know these things do not mix?"(15).

 When the mothers of the Joy Luck Club came to America, they decided to pass on their heritage and moralities to their children through story. In a sense, these stories were a way for the mothers to communicate with their daughters properly. They wanted to tell stories and allow their daughters to appreciate their heritage and remember who they were. They also wanted to teach them their morals of life. Unfortunately, they did not push the daughters to work hard enough to follow the stories(they became americanized), but the daughters still gained the stories knowledge and understood their heritage.

"And now I see what part of myself is Chinese. It is so obvious. It is my family. It is our blood,"(15).

Although the daughters became americanized, they soon realized why the stories were told and what their mothers attempted to accomplish.  This then continues the tradition of telling stories, form mother to daughter, from mother to daughter, or son. They pass down their traditions, and heritage.

I see this as a cycle because throughout the story, the mothers tell their daughters stories, and it is assumed they will do the same thing in their older ages too. It is an extremely important part of their lives and is necessary to pass along critical ideas. These ideas changed the daughters fates, and they will do the same thing to the next generation. The story continues even after it has ended.