Each person is made of five different elements, she told me. Too much fire and you had a bad temper. That was like my father, whom my mother always critized for his cigarette habit and who always shouted back that she should feel guilty that he didn't let my mother speak her mind.Too little wood and you bent too quickly to listen to other people's ideas, unable to stand on your own. This was like my Auntie An-mei. Too much water and you flowed in too many different directions. like myself.
In "The Joy Luck Club," a character explains that each individual embodies five elemental qualities that can influence their personality. A balance among these elements is essential; for instance, excessive fire can lead to aggression and a harsh temperament, as illustrated by her father, who often clashed with her mother due to his smoking and defensive nature. On the other hand, a deficiency in wood can make a person overly accommodating and unable to assert themselves, as seen in her Auntie An-mei.
Furthermore, an abundance of water can cause one to be indecisive and swayed by external forces, reflecting the narrator's own struggles. This exploration of elemental balance serves as a poignant metaphor for understanding the complexities of individual character and familial relationships within the narrative, as each character deals with their unique elemental influences.
Rate the Quote
User Reviews
Other quotes in book quote
All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
