In Amy Tan's novel "The Joy Luck Club" there are many themes and imagery throughout the book, but one theme that is relevant and stands out is the issue, "Cruel men? Weak men? Fair portrayal of men?" The novel is based on women in the Chinese traditional families, but does not discuss the men. What role do they play in their lives? Were they the people that made there lives unbearable? The men that will be looked upon are associated to the Jong, The Hsu, and the St. Clair family. Although many people would believe that the men in "The Joy Luck Club" were vindictive, they have shown that they not only are they feeble but that the weak men over power the cruel, and through their actions this statement will be apparent to all.
The Jong Family have two key males that fit the description of cruel and or weak men. The first was Tyan-Yu, Linda Jong's first husband. Lindo and Tyan-Yu's wedding was arranged marriage. Lindo's parents were forced to depart their home leaving Lindo behind. Even though she was only twelve years old, Lindo belonged to the family of her .
betrothed. The Huangs, the family of Tyan-yu, were very wealthy and took little interest in Lindo which lead to the first impression that Tyan-yu was a cruel man by the way he acted. He and his family made her stay in their servants" quarters and made her perform physical tasks, such as cooking, washing dishes, cleaning, and embroidering clothes. Tyan-yu would make her sleep on the couch lying to his mother so that he would not get himself into trouble which was a sign of weakness on Tyan-yu's part. Lindo proves this by saying "That's when I could see what was underneath Tyan-yu. He was scared.". (58).
Lindo's marriage was miserable, for there was no love in it. Tyan-yu, feeling no emotion for his wife, would not touch her. Matters were made worse when everyone wondered .
why Lindo did not become pregnant and for this came trouble. Tyan-yu was to much of a coward to make any moves and left it all for Lindo to do herself.
