Family Ties
Jong vs. Jong
Sixty- four squares. Thirty- two pieces. Two players, a mother and a daughter. In Amy Tan’s collection of short stories, The Joy Luck Club, Lindo Jong and her daughter Waverly share a mind for strategy and diversion, like a game of chess. Due to their competitive nature, an unhealthy relationship emerges. Furthermore, they both have advanced strategic thinking, skills at manipulation, and possess mental strength.
Lindo and Waverly have both been placed in challenging physical and subjective situations where using their mind has gotten them out of personal crisis. Lindo Jong is contractually trapped in a marriage with a man and family who want nothing to do with her, but cook and clean. However, she is able to overcome the situation when she “started to think about how [she] would escape this marriage without breaking [her] promise to [her] family” (Tan 59). Waverly also possesses this mind skill. While playing chess, she “could see things on the chessboard that other people could not… could create barriers to protect [herself] that were invisible to [her] opponents” (Tan 187). This significant quality of both characters plays a big part in how they see the world around them.
In addition, they are also very talented with manipulation. Lindo says that she learned “not to show your own thoughts… so you could take advantage of hidden opportunities” (Tan 289). Waverly disliked when her mother would try to take all the credit for her chess victories. So Waverly “ignored her. [She] refused to speak and waited for [her mother] to come to [her]” (Tan 188). Now this conflict between them, is like a game of chess. Each opponent is trying to manipulate to win in their favor.
Furthermore, Lindo and Waverly are very strong and skilled psychologically. Lindo makes a true statement about herself when she says “I am strong… pure… had genuine thoughts inside that no one could ever take away from me. I was like the wind” (Tan 53). Waverly has extraordinary strength when “a light wind began blowing past [her] ears. It whispered secrets only [she] could hear” (Tan 98). Strength plays a strong driving force in the values that make up Lindo and Waverly as individuals.
This is so because they share the same values of intelligent and creative planning. It is in their nature to scheme, mislead people or situations, and use their mental strength in an attempt to solve problems. However, when looking at life and society as a whole, it is always important to be honest and direct. When a connection maintains a steady stream of trust, it aids and promotes feelings of intimacy and creates a better bond. That is the best foundation for a relationship of any kind.
