Sunday, May 20, 2007

Chinese Cinderella End

Chapters 18 until the end are said to have taken place two year later. Adeline is still at the same boarding school in Hong Kong. Although she has friends she is also known as an outcast. She never gets new clothes like the other girls, nor do her parents and family ever come visit her like the other girls. She often hears them talking about how weird it is and how they all think that she made up the story about her father. At the school Adeline really began developing her abilty to write. She often beat out the older girls for the slots in the school's magazine. Her ability to write and also her ability to learn very easily helped her and she was able to move up a grade. However this was looked negatively by the older girls. "Instead of trying to memorize every book in here, you'd be more popular if you get yourself some pretty dresses instead" (pg. 165). Though the older girls tended to make fun of her there were still the girls that looked up to her. "She has sort of a special spirit, and it's a persons inner core that counts" (pg. 170).

As the end of term approaches all the girls realize that Adeline is the only boarder who is not going to leave. Finally the night before they leave Adeline's two closest friends comfort her and she finally confesses her true dreams and goals. "More than anything," I told them, "I yearn to grow up, get out of here and see the world. We must get away, stand on our own two feet and create our own destiny" (pg. 176). I think that this quote is really significant for Adeline because she finally kind of confesses her problems and tells herself that only she will be able to change her destiny of being unwanted.

As break went on Adeline grew very ill, and had to be taken to the hospital for her condition. After she was better she was take from the hospital and on her Niang's orders was allowed to finally go back home, but it was only for one week. While she is home she and her grandfather often talk and she tells him that although she likes being smart and talented she sometimes wishes she wasnt so she would fit in better. Her grandfather retaliates and says "You mustn't talk like that! You have your whole life ahead of you. Everything is possible! I've tried to tell you over and over that far from being garbage, you are precious and special. Being top of class merely confirms this. But you can vanquish the demons only when you yourself are convinced of your wealth" (pg.181).

This helps Adeline get through the rest of her school and she goes back and digs in even deeper putting more time and effort then she normally did. She even enters into a playwriting contest, and much to her suprise she wins. However the same day she hears the news that she won, she also hears the news that her Ye Ye had died. This is especially heartbreaking for her considering her play was dedicated to him for giving her inspriation.

Over time she goes back to school only to be pulled out by Niang, who feels that Adeline is old enough to get a job and pay her father back for everything he has done for her. She cries and begs her father to finally do something good for her and send her to the university in London. He agrees on the condition that Adeline go to the university and study medicine. She happily agrees, and the story ends when she finally hears from Aunt Baba who tells her that she is very proud of her and tells her that she is a fighter and that in Aunt Baba's eyes Adeline is a hero.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book, my daughter found it very useful.

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book, my daughter found it very useful.