The Joy Luck Club. Chapter Summaries. SECTION I - FEATHERS FROM A THOUSAND LI AWAY The Parable The novel opens with a parable presented by a Chinese woman living in America. While in China she had purchased a "swan" from a vendor, who boasted that the animal was actually a duck that had stretched itself out because ... 's lifestyle. The daughter resents her mother's traditional Chinese ways, and the mother cannot understand why her daughter does not appreciate the suffering she has endured for her sake. This opening parable depicts America as a land of opportunity, where people can achieve gr...

• Word Count: 6459
• Approx Pages: 26
• Grade Level: High School