The Joy Luck Club - Four Directions

     Waverly Jong, once a chess champion, is now moving into a new chapter in her life with her new boyfriend and daughter. As many daughters do when they are taking a large step towards their future, Waverly seeks the approval and opinion of her mother. Unfortunately, she gets exactly what she expects. Waverly's mother silently criticizes Waverly's life choices while walking through her home. Waverly attempts to redeem herself by shyly showing her mother a gift that her boyfriend had given her: a mink coat. With only a few words, Waverly's mother cuts the gift down and, in turn, cuts down Waverly's opinion of her boyfriend. "And looking at the coat in the mirror, I couldn't fend off the strength of her will anymore, her ability to make me see black where there was once white, white where there was once black. The coat looked shabby, an imitation of romance." Waverly's fears were realized. She mentions indirectly how much her mother's opinion matters to her, "I'd never known a love so pure, and I was afraid that it would become sullied by my mother." In this statement, she admits her shared love for her boyfriend and also how fragile it is.

     I think that Waverly's feelings can be compared to the emotions of designers or contestants who compete on television shows such as Project Runway or Next Food Network Star. While this analogy may seem farfetched, they have remarkable similarities. Under constant scrutiny and criticism, competitors sometimes begin not to find the same value in themselves or their work. The opinions of a judging panel or those of a controlling mother can override the initial reactions of a competitor or, in this case, a daughter. Waverly seems to have made the right decision already for both her and her daughter, we will find out later the chapter whether she will stick with her initial decision or conform to her mother's ideals.