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McGee of 303 and Learnstrong.net lectures on Amy Tan’s Rules of the Game, A
Summary of amy tan rules of the game
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Fiction Analysis Amy Tan and Sandra Cisneros are both excellent writers. Their stories are really interesting and entertaining, especially for college students and for individuals who are just looking for something to read. After reading several papers to do this paper on, I chose two that really spoke to me and were definitely worth the read. These two stories are Amy Tan’s “Rules of The Game”’ and Sandra Cisneros, “Only Daughter”. I choose to analyze these two stories in their socio-economic setting in terms of the notions of success, and compare and contrast how the main characters deal with these conflicts in their lives. Through comparing and contrasting Tan’s “Rules of The Game” and Cisneros’ “Only Daughter”, it is evident that their …show more content…
interpretation of success are somewhat distinct, and the conflicts in the main character’s lives are dealt with differently in terms of conflicting decisions and great accomplishments. Both stories main characters are very interesting.
The two families mentioned are very different in terms of race. The girl in Cisneros’ “Only Daughter” is being raised in a Mexican family, whereas Waverly, the little girl in Tan’s “Rules of the Game” is being raised in a Chinese family. The two girls have different dreams for their future which comes across in the most unexpected ways. Waverly is never interested in chess and only starts playing after her brother received the chess game at the Christmas party. After she understood the game she becomes somewhat obsessed with playing. Being the only girl child in her family, the boys get tired of playing with her which gives her lots of time alone to think and practice her chess moves . The girl in Cisneros’ “Only Daughter” also has this problem as she is the only daughter in her family as well. Prior to having so much alone time due to her luck of her brothers not wanting to play with her, forces her to spend a lot of time by herself. As was stated in the story, “But that aloneness , that loneliness, was good for a would-be writer- it allowed me time to think and think, to imagine, to read and prepare myself” (1). According to the quote this time alone makes her into the writer that she
is. These two young ladies want different things. The girl in Cisneros’ “Only Daughter” wants to please her father with what she does and wants his attention and interest. Being the only daughter and not married like he hoped, makes it extra hard for her. This makes her try even harder to win his approval. Waverly, the little girl in Tan’s “Rules of the Game” just wants to play chess, because this is what she loves and is good at. She lives solely on a strategy her mother taught her and that is “the art of invisible strength” (1). She wants to use it and win as many chess games as she can and that is her main goal. Even though she isn’t what her dad wants her to be, the girl in Cisneros “Only Daughter” is doing what she loves and will stop at nothing to prove to her dad that he can be proud of her. She uses what she does as a way to make him pay attention to her and soon makes him proud of her. Waverly on the other hand keeps learning more chess secrets and keeps winning more games. Her mother is proud of her and wants to show her off to the world, but Waverly doesn’t like all the attention she is getting and runs away from it. The way in which both girls in the stories deal with the conflicts in their lives are really different. The lady in Cisneros’ story goes to college to further her education and fulfill her dream of becoming a writer, but also partially to try and find herself a husband to fulfill her father’s dream of her becoming somebody’s wife. She also uses the opportunity of using her father’s beliefs to major in the subject she wanted, without having him thinking it was a silly choice. As she stated in the story “…I’m lucky my father believed that daughters were meant for husbands. It meant it didn’t matter if I majored in something silly like English” (2).She believes that in the process, she will find a professional to be her husband. On the other hand, the more chess games Waverly plays, the more she wins. The more games she wins, the more her mother gives her attention, and the more Waverly becomes annoyed at her to the point where it starts to affect her plotting. In Waverly’s word, “But I found it difficult to concentrate at home. My mother had a habit of standing over me while I plotted out my games I think she thought of herself as my protective ally” (5). Just by this quote, we can see that Waverly didn’t like too much attention, especially from her mother. Another scenario in “Rules of the Game” was that when Waverly’s mom would gloat over her daughter and show her off, Waverly didn’t like it at all. The attention was too much for her, so she told her mother off and ran away. The lady in “Only Daughter” was craving the attention that Waverly was getting from her mother, from her own father. While Waverly is getting gloated over and shown off, this lady’s father wouldn’t even introduce her the way she wanted to be introduced. Instead of introducing her as a writer, her dad would introduce her as a teacher. Both ladies in the stories are very successful. Even though their parents might be the problems as to why they aren’t exactly happy, they still both achieve great accomplishments. The lady in Cisneros’ “Only Daughter” is a successful writer and the only thing that would make the career perfect is her father’s acceptance and approval. At the end of the day, she got exactly what she wanted when her story was published in Spanish and her dad was able to read it, enjoy it and even request for more copied for the family. Winning matches and using the art of invisible strength with success, is all Waverly wants. She wants her peace, her own way and mother to give her some peace. With all that was going on, she just wants to play Chess. She confronts her mother, run away and finally starts to get the peace she needs. She is alone, but that is exactly what she wants.
“I wish you weren’t my parent!” A phrase often said to parents when their children are upset. In “Tortilla Sun” written by Jennifer Cervantes, and “Confetti Girl” written by Diana Lopez, the same type of frustration arises. “Tortilla Sun” involves a girl and her mother in an argument. The girl’s mother decides to pursue her education and needs to leaves her daughter at her grandma’s house. “Confetti Girl” is similar; the main conflict is a daughter missing her mother, and her father not being able to bond with her. Because of the divergent mindsets of both parents and their children, awkward and tense situations cause conflicts in both short stories.
The Mother walks through the city streets boisterously proclaiming that her daughter is a chess champion. She says, “This is my daughter Waverly-ly Jong.” Waverly quickly informs her mother that she is uncomfortable with her bragging to everyone. Despite the fact that Waverly is embarrassed, her mother does not care about how Waverly feels. Waverly finally snaps, when she says, “I knew it was a mistake to say anything more, but I heard my voice speaking, ‘Why do you have to use me to show off? If you want to show off, then why don’t you learn to play chess?’” Waverly understands that she is being used by her mother. She feels as if she is an animal in a zoo, who is behind a glass window, and out in display for all to see. For the first time Waverly is able to express how she feels about her mother’s control and mental abuse. Furthermore, Waverly insists that her mother is going to have to learn to play chess herself, if she wants all the attention. This climatic scene should be followed with a happy-ending; a moment of mother and daughter bonding, although the contrary occurs. The Mother is certainly not going to allow Waverly to insult her by expressing her opinion. Regardless of how upset Waverly is, the Mother will not stop publically proclaiming Waverly’s greatness. The Mother needs the attention of other people, “Most studies will show that mothers and fathers hell-bent on this image of perfection desperately need the world to take note of their kids’ awesomeness. It’s a way of saying, see, my kids are great. Therefore, I am great. Look at me. See? I’m a great parent. Really, I am” (Gault). Waverly’s mother desperately desires to be seen as successful and perfect. Announcing to everyone in the city that Waverly is a chess champion is her way of calling attention to herself. The only time Waverly gets the slightest
She was not a master of style, plot development or characterization, but the intensity of feeling and aspiration are evident in her narratives that overrides her imperfections. Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street, written in 1984, and Anzia Yezierska’s Bread Givers, published in 1925, are both aimed at adolescent and adult audiences that deal with deeply disturbing themes about serious social conditions and their effects on children as adults. Both books are told in the first person; both narrators are young girls living in destitute neighborhoods; and both young girls witness the harsh realities of life for those who are poor, abused, and hopeless. Although the narrators face these overwhelming obstacles, they manage to survive their tough environments with their wits and strength remaining intact. Esperanza, a Chicano with three sisters and one brother, has had a dream of having her own things since she was ten years old.
When nothing is going right in life, what do you do? Do you just quit and hope for the best or do you pick yourself up and work even harder to succeed? Iliana Roman, a single mother of three children and an owner of a hair salon, kindles the message that individuals who face adversity can still persevere in life. According to Roman’s memoir “First Job”, it is never too late to turn your life around. At seventeen years, old Roman unexpectedly became pregnant. This event led to Roman’s life changing completely causing her to drop out of high school. She was nearly to the point of no return, she simply could not hold down a proper job, and the only way to support herself and her child is working three to four odd jobs every week. Roman presents her message of persevering in life by incorporating hyperbole, repetition, and pathos.
Opportunities came and went, but no one seemed to care about the challenges African Americans were facing. Success was complicated due to the fact that unfair chances are given and no one could be held responsible because of this. Thus, Harlon L. Dalton and Toni Cade Bambara conclude with the idea that success is hard because of unfairness towards certain things for example, opportunities and equality. However, in Dalton’s essay the myth states everything to be true and correct while he points out the key differences in making the statements false. Toni Cade Bambara uses the viewpoint of a young girl in her story named Sylvia to show the impact of how success changes the lives of every African American and how it represents inequality. In addition, success is not as easy as the myth claims it to be, it illustrates that African Americans are not given an equal chance, and the odds are stacked against them. Some might argue that opportunities are for everyone and they are equal, though this is a good point it is not accurate. Many problems like race is just one factor that took a while to solve, so it cannot be said that chances are equal. The subject of success is important because it is not easy to achieve, especially when chances are not even and distributed properly. African Americans had to fight their way towards getting
Toni Cade Bambara’s "The Lesson" revolves around a young black girl’s struggle to come to terms with the role that economic injustice, and the larger social injustice that it constitutes, plays in her life. Sylvia, the story’s protagonist, initially is reluctant to acknowledge that she is a victim of poverty. Far from being oblivious of the disparity between the rich and the poor, however, one might say that on some subconscious level, she is in fact aware of the inequity that permeates society and which contributes to her inexorably disadvantaged economic situation. That she relates poverty to shame—"But I feel funny, shame. But what I got to be shamed about? Got as much right to go in as anybody" (Bambara 604)—offers an indication as to why she is so hard-pressed to concede her substandard socioeconomic standing in the larger scheme of things. Sylvia is forced to finally address the true state of her place in society, however, when she observes firsthand the stark contrast between the rich and the poor at a fancy toy store in Manhattan. Initially furious about the blinding disparity, her emotionally charged reaction ultimately culminates in her acceptance of the real state of things, and this acceptance in turn cultivates her resolve to take action against the socioeconomic inequality that verily afflicts her, ensuring that "ain’t nobody gonna beat me at nuthin" (606). "The Lesson" posits that far from being insurmountable, economic and social injustice can be risen above, but it is necessary that we first acknowledge the role that it plays in our lives, and then determine to take action against it; indifference, and the inaction that it breeds, can only serve to perpetuate such injustices.
By educating herself she was able to form her own opinion and no longer be ignorant to the problem of how women are judge by their appearance in Western cultures. By posing the rhetorical question “what is more liberating” (Ridley 448), she is able to get her readers to see what she has discovered. Cisneros also learned that despite the fact that she did not take the path that her father desired, he was still proud of all of her accomplishments. After reading her work for the first time her father asked “where can I get more copies” (Cisneros 369), showing her that he wanted to show others and brag about his only daughters accomplishments. Tan shifts tones throughout the paper but ends with a straightforward tone saying “there are still plenty of other books on the shelf. Choose what you like” (Tan 4), she explains that as a reader an individual has the right to form their own opinion of her writing but if they do not like it they do not have to read it because she writes for her own pleasure and no one else’s. All of the women took separate approaches to dealing with their issues but all of these resolutions allowed them to see the positive side of the
In a country like the United States of America, with a history of every individual having an equal opportunity to reach their dreams, it becomes harder and harder to grasp the reality that equal opportunity is diminishing as the years go on. The book Our Kids by Robert Putnam illustrates this reality and compares life during the 1950’s and today’s society and how it has gradually gotten to a point of inequality. In particular, he goes into two touching stories, one that shows the changes in the communities we live in and another that illustrates the change of family structure. In the end he shows how both stories contribute to the American dream slipping away from our hands.
Women have traditionally been known as the less dominant sex. Through history women have fought for equal rights and freedom. They have been stereotyped as being housewives, and bearers and nurturers of the children. Only recently with the push of the Equal Rights Amendment have women had a strong hold on the workplace alongside men. Many interesting characters in literature are conceived from the tension women have faced with men. This tension is derived from men; society, in general; and within a woman herself. Two interesting short stories, “The Yellow Wall-paper and “The Story of an Hour, “ focus on a woman’s plight near the turn of the 19th century. This era is especially interesting because it is a time in modern society when women were still treated as second class citizens. The two main characters in these stories show similarities, but they are also remarkably different in the ways they deal with their problems and life in general. These two characters will be examined to note the commonalities and differences. Although the two characters are similar in some ways, it will be shown that the woman in the “The Story of an Hour” is a stronger character based on the two important criteria of rationality and freedom.
A mother drives her three kids to soccer practice in a Ford minivan while her husband stays at the office, rushing to finish a report. Meanwhile, a young woman prays her son makes his way home from the local grocery without getting held up at knife point by the local gang. Nearby, an immigrant finishes another 14-hour shift at the auto parts factory, trying to provide for his wife and child, struggling to make way in a new land. Later, a city girl hails a cab to meet her girlfriends at their favorite club to celebrate her new promotion over cosmopolitans. These people – the suburban soccer mom, the tired immigrant, the worried mother from the hood, and the successful city girl – each represent the different realities or fantasies that exist in the American society. They are all living or working towards what they believe to be the coveted American dream. Some of these people are similar to the Chinese immigrant, Ralph, in Gish Jen’s novel Typical American. However, all are confused as to what the American dream really is and whether or not the dream is real.
The story I chose to analyze is “Why I Live at the P.O.” by Eudora Welty. The author, Eudora Wetly, is originally from Mississippi from a prosperous family, she was born in 1909 and passed away in 2001.During her early days she worked at small places involved with writing until she launched her literary career. ‘Why I Live at the P.O’ is about sibling rivalry and favoritism among family. My thesis states that this story shows a good example of favoritism among families and good insight from the outcast.
Although, African Americans are considered minorities in the United States, not all of them live in poverty. Many African Americans live in a middle class society along with the dominant culture. However, many African Americans do not live in a middle class society, but rather live in poverty and have to suffer along with this poverty. For instance, Donald Goines’s Black Girl Lost and Tina McElroy Ansa’s Baby of the Family, two narrative novels, that illustrate the difference in two young African American girls lives and the society in which they inhabit. Not only do these young African American girls represent the two sides of poverty, they also represent how children can also qualify in the minority category. For example, Sandra lives in a run down apartment with a drunk mother who could care less about her daughter. In addition, Sandra remains all on her own and has to find ways in which to survive each day. But on the other hand, Lena lives in a nice size home with her two parents, her two brothers, and her grandmother, all who love her very much. Moreover, Lena has many family members who look after her and take extra special care for her because she is the baby of the family. Although, both Sandra and Lena lead very different lives, both are faced with challenges as a minority and as a child which questions their view on life.
Amy Tan used symbolism to reveal the cultures and how it interacted with the conflict of the story. One example was she used the game of chess as more than just a game. She illustrated it as a game of life and a way of her adaptation into her new American culture. This was demonstrated when Waverly’s mother read the rules of chess but did not understand them. Mrs. Lindo said, “Every time people come out from foreign country, must know rules… They say, don’t know why, you find out yourself” (502). This quote demonstrated the culture gap in the family, because the mother grew up with Chinese beliefs. Symbolically, when they received the American game of chess for Christmas they were excited and
In "The Rules of the Game," a short story about a young Chinese-American girl, Waverly Jong, embarks journey to become a chess master. Waverly's mother believes she is a key component during this journey. Even though the mother actually has no true role in Waverly's adventure, she continues to believe it is her as the one who is succeeding. This belief is a necessity for Waverly's mother because she has nothing for herself. Waverly's mother has to live through her daughter because of her own lack of success.
Kate Chopin’s “The Story of the Hour” and Charlotte Perkins Gillman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” is viewed from a woman’s perspective of the nineteenth century. They showed the issues on how they were confined to the house. That they were to be stay at home wives and let the husband earn the household income. These stories are both written by American women and how their marriage was brought about. Their husbands were very controlling and treated them more like children instead of their wives. In the nineteenth century their behavior was considered normal at the time. In “The Story of the Hour” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” both women explore their issues on wanting to be free of the control of their husband.