What Does the Dialogue Between the Characters Reveal About Suyuan’s Character?

Suyuan Woo is a major character in Amy Tan’s book, The Joy Luck Club. By examining the dialogue between her and other characters in the novel, the reader can gain insight into Suyuan’s character, motivations, and values.

Suyuan’s Strong Will

In SparkNotes, Suyuan Woo is described as a “strong and willful woman”. This is evidenced in the novel through her conversations with others. For example, when her daughter, Jing-mei, expresses her fears about failing her mother’s expectations, Suyuan is quick to remind her that she “can do anything”. Through her dialogue, it is clear that Suyuan is determined and confident that her daughter can be successful.

Suyuan’s Hopes and Dreams

According to Shmoop, Suyuan’s name means “long-cherished wish” and her dialogue with other characters helps to reveal what those wishes are. Suyuan’s conversations with others often focus on her dreams of a better life, both for herself and for her daughter. She expresses her desire to find her missing twin daughters, to give Jing-mei a better education, and to find someone to take care of her when she is older. Through her dialogue, readers can gain insight into Suyuan’s hopes and aspirations.

Suyuan’s Cultural Critique

In Encyclopedia.com, Amy Tan’s thematic interest in beginnings is placed in dialogue with Suyuan’s conversations in the novel. Through her conversations, Suyuan is able to express her cultural critiques of the societal expectations that are placed on women. She discusses her frustrations with her arranged marriage and the need for a woman to depend on a man in order to survive. Her conversations reveal her opinion on the limited opportunities for women in Chinese culture, and her dialogue serves an important purpose in furthering the novel’s themes.

Through her conversations with other characters, readers can gain insight into Suyuan’s character and motivations. Her dialogue reveals her strong will, her hopes and dreams, and her cultural critiques. By examining her interactions with others, readers can gain a better understanding of Suyuan’s story within the context of the larger narrative.