"There are times when even the tiger sleeps." This Chinese proverb is essential to understanding the character of Lindo Jong, Waverly Jong's mother, in The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. The book, written as a series of intertwined vignettes, delves into the world of Chinese mother-daughter relationships. The Joy Luck Club tells of four Chinese families: the Woos, the Hsus, the Jongs and the St. Clairs. Waverly Jong's mother Lindo has always been strong and stubborn, criticizing everything around her and not giving in to persuasion. This combativeness annoys Waverly, who has spent her entire life subconsciously trying to impress her mother, a seemingly impossible task. Waverly has always been tormented by her mother's criticism, becoming increasingly distressed that she cannot live up to her mother's high standards. After finally deciding to confront her mother about her relentless personality, Waverly realizes that her mother is just a vulnerable old woman despite her inner strength. The Chinese proverb “There are times when even the tiger sleeps” suggests that even the strongest have an Achilles' heel. This proverb is especially relevant to the sleep scene with Lindo Jong because even though Lindo is strong and combative, she is still a fallible old woman who cares about her daughter. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe proverb can be interpreted literally, but it also has a deeper figurative meaning. The tiger, a powerful predator, is seen as an almost flawless warrior in the animal kingdom. Always on guard, the tiger is a fearsome creature that should not be interfered with. Like any creature, the tiger needs sleep, thus making it vulnerable to attack. Viewing tigers as a dominant adversary and regarding sleep as a universally recognized moment of vulnerability, this ancient Chinese proverb correctly states that no creature is without weaknesses or moments of weakness. Waverly and Lindo's contrasting personalities highlight both their personal weaknesses. According to the Chinese Zodiac, Waverly was born Rabbit, making her "presumably sensitive, with tendencies to be thin-skinned and nervous at the first sign of criticism" while her mother Lindo was born Horse, making her "stubborn and outspoken to the point of tactlessness ” (183). These two animal signs do not bode well together, leading to a plethora of conflicts between the two Jongs. Lindo constantly criticizes everything from the food she eats to the people around her. A good example of Lindo's hurtful criticism is it when she calls Waverly's expensive fur coat, a gift from her boyfriend? “just leftover stripes” (186). As Waverly states, “[Lindo] never thinks anyone is good enough for anything” (183). enrage Waverly, who simply wants her mother to accept her surroundings. The proverb's relevance to Lindo Jong becomes apparent when Waverly discovers her mother sleeping. Waverly has always been angry at her manipulative mother for her "scheming ways. .. [Waverly] unhappy" (199). Waverly leaves early in the morning to go to her parents' house and scold her mother. When he finds Lindo, he sees a side of his mother he had never observed before: the back of her head resting on an embroidered white doily. His mouth was loose and all the wrinkles on his face had disappeared. With her smooth face, she looked like a little girl, fragile, naive and innocent. One arm hung limply along the side of the couch. His chest was still. All his strength was gone. She had no weapons, no demons surrounding her. He seemed helpless..”