The quote "I tried to keep very still, but my heart felt like crickets scratching to get out of the cage" from Amy Tan's "The Joy Luck Club" conveys a deep sense of internal anxiety and restlessness. It illustrates a character's struggle to maintain composure while feeling intense emotions that are hard to contain. The imagery of crickets emphasizes an urge to break free from constraints, suggesting that the character is overwhelmed with feelings that they cannot express openly.

This longing to express oneself resonates throughout the novel, where themes of cultural identity and generational conflict are explored. Characters often grapple with their desires and the expectations placed upon them, leading to moments of tension and release. Tan masterfully captures the nuances of these emotions, highlighting the complexities of family relationships and the search for personal truth.