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The impact of children's literature in our society
The impact of children's literature in our society
The impact of children's literature in our society
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“Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure.” — Former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. In the novel Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah faces many challenges in her life and shows perseverance. Adeline is very close to failure and is constantly unwanted by her family, but this neglected daughter strives to do her best and perseveres through obstacle after obstacle to find her way. Even though Adeline does succeed at the end of the book, Chinese Cinderella, a true biography by Adeline Yen Mah, is a depressing story in my opinion.
In Chinese Cinderella, Adeline, the main character, faces many examples of child abuse. An example of child abuse in this novel states, “‘Why are you home so early, you sneaky little liar,’... My silence was infuriating her … Her face suffused with rage, she slapped me. I felt dizzy and my ears hummed …” (Mah 102). This quote illustrates the main idea that Niang abuses Adeline instead of disciplining her. This
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is important to the book because it shows how Niang will treat Adeline throughout the memoir. In addition, evidence of abuse continues throughout the novel, “She slapped me with the back of her hand against my other cheek. ‘Show off”’ (115). Again, in this pattern Niang continually slaps Adeline. Niang does not treat Adeline as a good parent should, which is a key factor in how Adeline views the world. She does not think of herself all that highly, but Adeline continues to go through life head-on and always strives to do her best. In conclusion, throughout the novel, Niang continues to abuse Adeline. Adeline loses a pet in the book and that contributes to the depressing mood in Chinese Cinderella. “Jackie sprang forward. In one powerful leap he broke Father’s restraint and pounced on PLT” (82). This is one example of Adeline losing a pet, and shows that Jackie’s obedience training has not been working because he did not obey Father. Adeline’s grief over losing a pet is painful: “Jackie released the bird from his jaws but, with a pang I saw PLT’s left leg dangling lifelessly” (82). Jackie has killed PLT by squishing the precious bird in his big jaws. This is meaningful to the memoir because Adeline is very upset due to her pet’s death. Adeline’s pet represents a friend at home, where she rarely comes upon a playmate, and it is the most difficult place for her to be happy. Similar to Adeline’s other depressing challenges throughout Chinese Cinderella, she loses both of her grandparents, who are two of the few people who really care about her.
“Nai Nai had fainted and was frothing at the mouth … Nai Nai had died from a massive stroke” (19). Her grandmother’s death is tragic and a significant event Adeline will not cease to forget. Nai Nai’s death is important because she was one of Adeline’s only role models and Adeline had a great bond with Nai Nai. Sadly, later in the text Adeline learns: “Your Father has sent your chauffeur to take you directly to the Buddhist temple. Your grandfather has died” (186). This quote suggests that Ye Ye has died unexpectedly. His death affects Adeline because Ye Ye is the only adult who really protects her, now that Nai Nai is dead and Aunt Baba is not living with Adeline. In summary, in this novel many depressing incidents have occurred to Adeline including the loss of her two dear
grandparents. Adeline Yen Mah faces many depressing factors throughout her memoir. In life people face challenges that they can eventually overcome if they are persistent. In conclusion, Adeline Yen Mah did not let problems stand in her way, instead she persevered and pushed them out of her way. Also, Adeline did not set her challenges aside; she walks right through them with her head held high.
Cinderella is a childhood fairytale created through Disney that highlights fairy godmother magic, animated nature with talking animals, and happily ever after ending. While the latent meaning we grow
Adeline had been treated like trash all of her life by her parents. “Nothing will ever come to you.”(Yen Mah 103) Niang is a very strict, distasteful, and hated person in the book. This is important because it shows that Niang is cruel. “Girls like you should be sent away.”(Yen Mah 103) This is important because it shows that Niang hates Adeline. All in all, this shows that when Adeline was a child, she was treated like trash by Niang.
Throughout history, women have been portrayed as the weaker sex. Truthfully, many women are just as physically and emotionally strong as men. Cinderella’s strengths have been shown in the movies Ever After and Cinderella. In Ever After, a woman lost the only person that she ever really loved, but later found true love through the hardships of her lonely life. In Cinderella, a woman eventually found the love that she had always dreamed of throughout her slave-driven life. In both versions of this classic tale, Cinderella is strong, self-reliant, and fearless.
It all begins with “Once upon a time” and ends with “and they lived happily ever after”. “Cinderella” is a very widely known story that many children around the world look up to and admire through their entire life. The history of this story, how scholars interpret this tale, and how the authors have retold the story are all key points to keeping this story fresh and popular. Most of the time when people hear the story of “Cinderella”, they think about the Disney version and maybe it is time that changes. All in all, the story brings light to everyone’s life even if they only know the original “Cinderella”.
“When we had first seen the apartment, I created stories in my head of The relationship we’d establish with our cohabitants.” (Schmitt 128). This she found to be strictly imagined shortly after moving. Schmitt took in many considerations as to why she could not form a relationship with her neighbors and she pulled the reader in with how persistent she was to wanting to have a connection with the different people around her. Schmitt told details of the ceremony. The emotions of the reader is tied when she attends the funeral of the old man. “ She wailed, her voice broke, and then she repeated it, “Baba, Baba.” In the front row, her three sisters joined the chorus.” (Schmitt 130) , this shows the loss of someone who was clearly loved by many. Schmitt mentions that this drags her emotions in as well (Schmitt 130), she made the grandfather a part of her own feelings and put into perspective how hard it is to lose someone. This also connects emotion to the reader because it helps the reader connect to the story. Everyone has lost someone and putting in her input and not just the input of the chinese really makes a connection with one who is reading. By the end of the story Schmitt ends up making friendships finally with the people around her. She explains everything that she begins doing with her
A young girl is forced to live with her step-mother and step-sisters after her father and mother die. She becomes the maid of the family, tending to their every need. Eventually there is a ball; she acquires a fairy Godmother, goes to the ball, falls in love with the prince, blah blah blah. All you really need to know is that she has a happy ending. A happy ending. No matter how much suffering she went through in her early years, at the end, it all came together and she had no more worries. And this is the problem. Cinderella is not realistic. It never was and never will be. Watching this movie when I was young made me believe there was a prince waiting for me somewhere. I grew up thinking that life was simple and uncomplicated, that I did not need to worry about the future because there was a man that would provide everything I wanted and needed. But as I got older, I realized this was not the case. I saw many of my friend’s parents divorce, people die, and the world fight with each other. My fantasy died off, and I realized I had to work hard for myself, and not others. The poem Cinderella by Anne Sexton made fun of the ending of Cinderella. She states, “Cinderella and the prince / lived … happily ever after … / their darling smiles pasted on for eternity. / Regular Bobbsey Twins. / That story.” (Sexton 11). Notice who she referenced and how she has a sarcastic tone. Cinderella and the prince smiled for others, trying to convince
“...Aunt Baba sitting by the dressing table, crying. I crawled into her lap and put my arms around her to comfort her.” (Yen Mah 19). This shows that Adeline truly cares about Aunt Baba even from a young age and aims to make her feel better when she is distraught. It also shows that Aunt Baba also admires Adeline for her strength to get past this horrible event. In the book it states, “Your future is limitless and I shall always be proud of you…” (Yen Mah 197). This means that Aunt Baba knows that Adeline will go on to do great things in her life and makes her feel better about her current situation. She shows Adeline that even though she is facing a hardship now, it will still pay off later. Aunt Baba truly make Adeline feel better about herself and along the way makes herself feel
Adeline had a very rough childhood, but at least Aunt Baba helps her to get back up when she is knocked down by the people in her family who treat her as unwanted. For instance, one of the quotes in the book said “The truth is that as soon as I had heard Aunt Baba’s footsteps, I had started feeling better immediately. Knowing there was someone who cared for and believed in me had revived my spirit” (Yen Mah 79). This passage from the novel describes how Adeline knows how much Aunt Baba cares for her. Aunt Baba is a huge part of Adeline’s life and
Through the parallelism of past and present feelings, the reader sees the confusion that Hang feels. Hang struggles with her feelings toward her Aunt. While Hang does love her Aunt, she does not understand Aunt Tam’s motive to help her. Tam’s persistence for Hang to continue family rituals and shrines confuses Hang. Hang does not understand the importance of these things to Aunt Tam. Unlike Aunt Tam, Hang does not believe in all of the Vietnamese traditions. This is Hang’s first step to finding her self-purpose. This also allows the reader to see Hang’s feelings towards cultural events and shows the shift in Vietnamese culture. The use of no flashbacks during Aunt Tam’s funeral and funeral planning show that Hang has never felt the way she has. At this time in the novel Hang has found her own purpose therefore flashbacks cannot be used to portray Hang’s feelings and
The theme that comes to mind for me when I read this story is conflicting values. While growing up it was an important value to Jing-mei to be accepted for the daughter that she was. Unlike the value of her mother which was to not only become the best you can be but a prodigy, someone famous. In the way that Jing-mei's mother pushes so hard for her to become something bigger than she was it seems that Jing-mei tried her hardest not to.
...hough she was brutally mistreated, Cinderella was able to find a solution for her problems and children can to. All they have to do is make the effort, try hard enough and success is possible. Adults should pay attention to this and see if Cinderella can help their children keep a positive attitude toward whatever situation they may be in - exaggerated as it may be. Cinderella doesn't only help show one how to overcome adversity it points out good morals, and sends the message that good always prevails. Both of these messages are crucial in a society that is slowly crumbling. All we can do is watch and hope the messages learned from Cinderella make a difference in the lives of Children all around the world.
She cooked and cleaned all day, but managed to remain faithful and visit her mother’s grave to grieve and pray three times a day.... ... middle of paper ... ... If we have the courage to overcome the adversity that we face now and in the future, as did Cinderella with her stepsisters and jealous stepmother, then we too are that much closer to reaching our dreams.
June-May receives a letter from her twin sisters shortly after her mother’s death. However, her sisters do not know their mother is dead and have been searching for her for years. June-May takes the letter to Auntie Lindo who writes back pretending to be their mother and says that they are coming to visit. June-May protests saying “They’ll think I’m responsible, that she died because I didn’t appreciate her,” (Tan 149). She believes that her sisters will hate her when she shows up without their mother and has to announce her death. As a result, Auntie Lindo writes back announcing the passing of the mother and announces that instead their sister, June-May, will be coming. It is during this trip that June-May fulfills her mother’s dream, “carrying with me her dreams of coming home. I am going to China,” (Tan 147). By doing this she gains another part of her mother. However, it is when June-May reunites with her sisters that she fully becomes one wi...
The classic tale of Cinderella is well known for the fight of overcoming great obstacles despite great odds. However, there are always a few ill-hearted people who go out of their way to cease any competition that they might face, as seen with Cinderella’s step-sisters. Samuel Jackson says is his distinguished quote, “The hunger of imagination…lures us to…the phantoms of hope,” to help develop a more defined view of a fairytale. The story of Cinderella fully embodies the ideals of a true fairytale by encompassing magic, hope, and struggle between good and evil throughout the duration of the plot.
Many people know her as a princess who is sitting in house where her step-mother and her two step-sisters abused her. One day, she went to the ball from the help of her fairy godmother. The prince fell in love with her of her talents. In reality, she was mostly not have survived. In reality, this is Cinderella’s story.