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The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter In order to explain the first scene in this memoir, Adeline Yen Mah has filled the opening chapters with lusty images of an emerging nation amid burgeoning commercial 038; international life at the end of an empire 038; the start of a revolution. Falling leaves, with its endearing cover photo, touching chapter titles 038; sprinkling of Chinese language characters, is about her family in the French Concession of Shanghai; about her Buddhist grandfathers generation and how he first meets her grandmother at their arranged marriage; about their children, among whom are Adeline's father 038; his sister, Aunt Baba. It is after Adeline's birth, during the Japanese encroachment around Tianjin in 1937, that her mother succumbs to puerperal fever leaving five children motherless 038; the household rudderless. While Grandfather Ye Ye 038; Aunt Baba 038; the nameless servants tend to them all, they watch as Father seeks 038; marries a beautiful Eurasian woman whom they must call Niang, a most formal title for a mother. From here on Adeline Yen Mah's memoirs take on a dour 038; malevolent aspect. In her scrupulous honesty, Adeline muses that Niang must have been happy in the beginning, giving her stepchildren English names, setting the tone of a fashionable household 038; relegating elders to back rooms 038; financial subservience.
Niang forces siblings to choose sides, spy on each other 038; curry her favor. This most beautiful of stepmothers singles out the infant girl with particular venom, although beloved Ye Ye 038; treasured Aunt Baba are able to provide, for the first few years at least, a loving shield and some powerful if painful teachings. Until Niang banishes Adeline to boarding schools. I survived that particular isolation myself, so I found Mrs. Mah's descriptions devastating as well as healing. How achingly familiar were those dreamy, homesick, segregated years, except for the interesting times she lived in, post World War II China 038; Hong Kong.
Not even Niang's giving birth first to the favored son 038; then a daughter, destined to teeter on the edge of undauntedness herself, softens this stepmothers heart. You must watch as the father abdicates his sense of justice 038; I found myself screeching at someone to notice how forlorn 038; unwanted were this fathers father and sister. How sickening the skill with which these children learnt to connive, taunt 038; betray. And then Grandmother dies and Grandfather Ye Ye is desolate.
Meanwhile the Japanese invasion recedes 038; Communism arrives. I was glad to see this unwanted girls stubborn, enduring courage blossom under the concern 038; care of her grandfather 038; aunt, even as they all wilt beneath the punitive rule of their archetypal foe. Adeline Yen Mah manages to recount, without a scrap of self-pity or rancor, the years of betrayal 038; persecution until her scholarship, literally transports her to England 038; medical school. Her writings gave me so many insights as to how this quiet, thoughtful child must have infuriated that spoilt, shallow stepmother. I could not help but notice the similarities between the squabbling and persecution in this small household 038; what was happening in the greater nation beyond.
I was sighing with relief when Adeline escapes to the edges of her stepmothers influence where she thrives. Knowing the England of the 1950 s I was fascinated 038; familiar with her experiences. Coming after Niang's extreme prejudice, the bigotry of the English seems petty. I followed her adventures with growing gladness even as my heart dropped with every dreaded return to the withered core of her family. When she makes her way to America 038; falls for a handsome man I became nervous. Beauty is as beauty does 038; why, I thought, would someone with Adeline's relationship training, know how to choose a good man?
In California, however, she gets the opportunity. She gets a chance to mature, a safe place to raise her children and practice her medical profession. In fact, she becomes, to my naughty delight, the one resounding success in her family. When Adeline copes with the death of her father, then her stepmothers cruel will, letters of persecution, sibling reunions and predictable betrayals, I get the distinct impression her reactions are beyond her control. It was heartbreaking to watch this respected physician, wife 038; parent, relegated to the youngest member of her family, bending over backwards, to help, appease and cajole her siblings out of their sourness.
And then President Nixon opens up China to Western visitors.
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Research essay sample on Adeline Yen Mah Grandfather Ye Ye 038