Thousands of immigrants come to America every year with the hope that a new life, a better life, awaits them. They come in search of the “American Dream,” the hope that there are better-paying jobs, quality public schools to send their children to, and a safer environment full of opportunities and choices. Typically, immigrants undertake a long journey in hopes of creating a better future for their children so they can grow up in a country where they only have to worry about getting good grades and qualifying for a decent job. The characters in Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club demonstrate these American dreams by providing insight into both their difficult pasts and their hopes for their children. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In The Joy Luck Club, Tan wrote about Chinese immigrants who are mothers of American-born daughters. The book focuses on the relationships between mothers and daughters, who simply want to fit in with the rest of their American friends. Mothers always want their sons to be more successful and tend to brag about their daughters' achievements, often exaggerating them. For example, Waverly Jong was a chess prodigy during her childhood; she has won numerous championships and has also been in the news. Her Chinese mother, Lindo Jong, loved to brag about her daughter's victories to anyone who would listen, and she also liked to think that she had a role in those victories, too. At the end of one particular tournament, he said to Waverly, "This time I lost eight pieces. Last time it was eleven. What do I tell you? Better to lose less!" (p. 49). By making this observation, Lindo expresses how she feels responsible for victories and how she enjoys being involved in her daughter's life. Lindo's pride in Waverly's accomplishments represents "the American dream" because she clearly didn't say that comment to get attention, even though that's what Waverly assumes. She said this because she was proud of Waverly and felt that her daughter's successes were also her successes. Tan then reinstates the idea that immigrant parents want many opportunities for their children and feel very proud when children do something they haven't even had the opportunity to do, which is one of the many reasons they come to America. Another way the Joy Luck Club represents “the American Dream” is by discussing the fact that many of the mothers immigrate to escape unsafe situations or to find a safer environment. Suyuan woo, Jing Mei “June” Woo's mother, experiences such a situation. Suyuan fled a Chinese city named Kweilin when the Japanese army began bombing and invading the city. She had to leave all her belongings, even her twins, on the side of the road while fleeing. She eventually meets a man, gets married, and moves halfway across the world to the United States for a better life. She fled China because she wanted not only herself, but also her future children in a safer environment with less hardship. He didn't want them to have to experience what he went through. She also tries to make June become a prodigy like Waverly Jong, but fails because June doesn't seem to be interested in any of the proposed activities, including piano. June states, “My mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America” (p. 141). This expresses Suyuan's confidence in America's ability to give everyone a chance at a better life despite the difficulties of the past. While June did not become the prodigy her mother wanted her to be, the fact that she was able to do nearly all of her tasks.