The Joy Luck Club Lindo Jong Quotes

Lindo Jong

Quote 10

And then I saw another sign across the street. It was painted on the outside of a short building: "Save Today for Tomorrow, at Bank of America." And then I thought to myself, This is where American people worship. See, even then I was not so dumb! Today that church is the same size, but where that short bank used to be, now there is a tall building, fifty stories high, where you and your husband-to-be work and look down on everybody. (IV.3.50)

Lindo believes that Americans care more about money than about God.

Lindo Jong

Quote 11

I was not thinking when my legs lifted me up and my feet ran me across the courtyard to the yellow-lit room. But I was hoping – I was praying to Buddha, the goddess of mercy, and the full moon – to make that candle go out. It fluttered a little and the flame bent down low, but still both ends burned strong. My throat filled with so much hope that it finally burst and blew out my husband’s end of the candle. (I.3.59)

Lindo has a vision for her own future, and uses proactive action to move herself in that direction.

Lindo Jong

Quote 12

I watched this same movie when you did not come. The American soldier promises to come back and marry the girl. She is crying with genuine feeling and he says, "Promise! Promise! Honey-sweetheart, my promise is as good as gold." Then he pushes her onto the bed. But he doesn’t come back. His gold is like yours, only fourteen carats. (I.3.2)

The guy in the movie promises the girl anything to get sex. Lindo sees the movie and worries about Americans’ abilities to commit to promises. And by Americans, we all know she’s thinking about her own American daughter.