Mirror of Generation
A renowned English novelist George Orwell once quoted: “Each generation imagines itself to be more
intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” Yet, this is not
necessarily true. As witnessed in Amy Tan’s acclaimed novel, The Joy Luck Club, the daughters often
repeat the same consequences as their mothers. In fact, An-mei Hsu says in the novel: “Even though I
taught my daughter the opposite, still she came out the same way! … All of us are like stairs, one step
after another, going up and down, but all going the same way” (241). In the novel, despite their societal
and cultural differences, Rose Hsu Jordan is an exemplary representation of her mother, An-mei Hsu,
and ultimately develops, although unconsciously, into her mother’s “American Translation.”
An-mei Hsu, as a daughter of a concubine, was agonized through her childhood of having to subdue her
sentiments. As she was told from her mother about the story of a turtle and the magpies, she needed to
swallow her own tears. Not only did she have to disregard her own inkling of inferiority, but she also had
to condone the acknowledgement of injustice. Nevertheless, she maintained her faith and hope upon
her dear mother, who was always in presence as if she was a lighthouse leading the correct path for her
daughter through hardships and adversities. For instance, when the Second Wife intends to buy Anmei’s heart and mind with a fake pearl necklace, An-mei’s mother enlightens An-mei’s incomparable
value by proving that the pearl necklace is fake and asking An-mei, “Now can you recognize what is
true?” (261). After the incident of the fake pearl necklace, An-mei’s mother gives An-mei a blue sapphire
ring and commits suicide by consuming opium. As An-mei notes, “When the poison broke into her body,
she whispered to me that she would rather kill her own weak spirit so she could give me a stronger one”
(271). Thus, it is noted that An-mei’s mother’s dedication and sacrifice have compelled An-mei’s
strength of principle and character.
Comparatively, An-mei’s daughter, Rose Hsu Jordan, suffers from a feeling of overbearing
responsibilities. As Rose feels responsible for her brother’s death, she grows to be skeptical and
indecisive. In regards of her indecisiveness, her marriage life with Ted comes to be in danger and she
consequently faces the divorce paper. Yet, as An-mei’s mother insinuated an approach to her daughter,
An-mei also implicates a worthwhile outlook for her daughter, Rose. When Bing, An-mei’s son,
disappears at the sea, An-mei throws the blue sapphire ring that she previously got from her mother
into the water in order to appease the Coiling Dragon and protect Bing. By scrutinizing her mother’s
seemingly vain action, Rose learns an important value. In the novel, Rose says, “And I think now that
fate is shaped half by expectation, half by inattention. But somehow, when you lose something you love,
faith takes over. You have to pay attention to what you lost. You have to undo the expectation” (140).
As witnessed, An-mei’s behavior inflicts a change in Rose’s character. Rose becomes determined and
resolute. Even with her divorce problem with Ted, she rejects the check and refuses to sign the divorce
paper with determination.
Regardless of their different experience and difference in cultural background, both An-mei and Rose, as
witnessed, had great influence from their mothers and are significant representations of each other. Not
that they merely share some common notions, but they are a perfect translation of one another. They
indeed show the most unblemished reflection of all, if not the most honest one.