Analysis Of Adeline Yen Mah's Chinese Cinderella

Adeline was known as "bad luck" in her family. Her childhood to age 14 was a mix of feelings and a miserable experience for her. People in her family like Niang and Father didn't respect her at all and made her feel horrible about herself. The autobiography , Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah, is depressing because the author writes her miserable childhood to age 14. Adeline's guardians Niang and Father don't treat her with respect or love that she is supposed to have.
Adeline loved PLT with all her heart and felt like she was needed to take care of the baby chick. When PLT died because of Jackie’s Obedience Training, she got upset, depressed, and angry. For example, “She was my best friend in the world, I began, tears welling up in spite

of me, now I lost her forever” (Yen Mah 84). Adeline thought as PLT as her best friend and Adeline liked to think that she was needed for something important. When PLT died it was depressing because it would be hard and sad never seeing your best friend or knowing that a person that you knew very well has passed away. Adeline taught that she needed to protect Adeline because it was her treasure. Another example is “I felt as if my heart had stopped beating, I held myself rigid in a world full of dread, knowing that the doomed duckling would be mine” (page 81). Adeline was so depressed and hopeless that she knew that it would be PLT for the training. This also talks about how much she cares about the chick. PLT meant a lot to Adeline in a lot of different ways. Niang and Father treated her like somebody that was unwanted and useless. PLT needed some basic needs and Adeline felt that she was needed for help. When PLT was killed, Adeline became more sad and entered a horrible depression.
Father whips Adeline when she broke the rule of going to somebody’s house. Adeline got hurt and Niang said she was worthless which made her feel terrible. For example “Nothing will ever come of you, the problem is that you have bad blood from your mother. You don’t deserve to be housed and fed here. Girls like you should be sent away. You don’t belong in this house! (page 103) Niang tells Adeline that she is useless and unwanted and tells her that she isn’t good enough. Niang makes depressing and miserable statements to Adeline. This quote also states that Niang wants Adeline sent away so Niang doesn’t have to care for her. Another example is “I looked at him (Father) in utter desolation. The fabric of my life was about to be torn apart. My heart felt heavy with the most excruciating pain. He merely relooped the whip over his arm and walked out” (page 104). This quote states that Adeline was feeling lots of pain from Niang’s verbal words and Father’s physical abuse to her. This made hope less visible to her and made her feel depressed and sad. Adeline also has less respect from her parents. Niang also says mean things to Adeline which make her feel unwanted and unneeded.
Niang hits Adeline when she is mad and thinks that Adeline was lying, this leaves marks and scars on her face and makes her feel bad about herself.

For example,”My face was still smarting from Niang’s slaps. Was it my imagination or was my friend looking at me strangely? I couldn't help wondering if my face was bruised or swollen, did they suspect something? (page 105) When Niang was slapping Niang, it left marks on her face. Adeline’s classmates noticed it but ignored it. Adeline also got hurt physically and mentally because Niang didn’t treat her with respect. Another example is “He (Father) ordered me to lie face down on my bed and whipped me. I almost screamed out in pain but my I bit my lip and remained silent throughout the whole (page 104) This quote states that Adeline was being hurt physically by her Father and that the pain was so great that Adeline almost screamed throughout the punishment. It also shows that Father doesn’t show any love to Adeline. Father whips Adeline hard after she broke the rules which made her suffer in pain.
This beautiful but depressing story moves you and shows us how thankful we are to have a loving family and not get abused and neglected like with Adeline. Niang verbally abuses her by calling her names like "ugly" and Father abuses her physically and this makes Adeline feel unwanted, sad, and lowers her self esteem. This story makes you think twice about how you treat your family and friends and to be thankful for what you have because some

other people don't have the basic love of their family and leaves an impact on how you live your life everyday.