In Amy Tan's novel, or rather compilation of short stories, entitled The Joy Luck Club, there are many themes and messages to the reader. One of these involves the Chinese belief that a person is composed of the five elements: earth, fire, metal, water, and wood--the inner strength that one possess. Tan illustrates the idea that good inner strength is contusive well lived life, whereas little strength will lead to unhappiness.

Lindo Jong is a good medium for Amy Tan to show how an abundance of wood can be good for a person. As a child, she was unwillingly arranged to marry a boy she hardly knew, but did not like. Her parents insisted--actually forced--her to marry the boy, in hopes of a better life for her and status for the family. Lindo, not wanting to disappoint her blood-relatives, and ruin their shou, family honor, goes through with...