Chinese Cinderella - 1413 Words

FROM CHINESE CINDERELLA Adeline Yen Mah’s ‘Chinese Cinderella’ is the story of pain, rejection and triumph. Mental pain, contempt and cruelty were the harsh realities of her life. But the will to succeed and win recognition proved to be powerful motivating factors. The subtext is based in the years 1940-1950 and on memoirs of Adeline’s childhood. This extract is based on one of the few occasions when she went home. The title has a dreamy fairy tale like tone. It is used in an ironic manner and appropriately chosen. This extract has an autobiographical tone as Adeline relates her personal experiences. The words ‘rejected’, ’despised’, ‘left there’ describe her relationship with her family and reveal the unhappiness of her childhood...like†¦show more content†¦The great distance between father and daughter and the total absence of love and trust is clearly revealed. Adeline considers him an enemy, a hypocrite, a deceiver. The inner conflict is revealed through the entire monologue and in the use of rhetoric ‘Sit down! sit down!’. The use of repetition to make Adeline feel more comfortable. ‘Don’t look so scared’ – irony. Short sentences are used to build a climax. The extract from the newspaper adds authenticity and contrast to the earlier emotive language. ‘Is it possible? Am I dreaming? Me, the winner? Series of rhetorics which show her disbelief in her own abilities and her low self esteem. The cause of the ‘radiant’ look was the international literary prize that she had won. ‘I had given him face’, prestige, with a ‘revered colleague’. ‘For once he was proud of me’ emphasizes that never before had he acknowledged her as his daughter or been proud of her. And even now, it was only because of the prestige she had given him with his colleage that he was acknowledging her. But Adeline’s phrases ‘He looked radiant’, ‘Is this the big moment I have been waiting for?’ show how much she longed for parental recognition. Her joy is communicated effectively through the use of highly emotive language and the effective use of the hyperbole ’My whole being vibrated with all the joy in the world. I only had to reach out my hand to reach the stars’. In her euphoria she felt she could overcome the current reality of herShow MoreRelatedReview Of Cinderella A Chinese Cinderella Story And T he Golden Sandal 1119 Words   |  5 Pagesthat Cinderella stories have become an essential folktales not only to young people but as well as to older people. These stories have been recognized worldwide. Even more so, they were retold by different people and have been translated to different languages. What is fascinating about this is that different cultures have different interpretations of Cinderella stories and some do not appear to be the same slightly. Moreover, this paper examines two different cultures, Yen- Shen a Chinese CinderellaRead MoreChinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah610 Words   |  3 PagesIn the autobiography Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah, the narrator was influenced in many ways by the people around her. One character which influences the narrator’s life to a vast amount was her step-mother Niang. Her Aunt Baba also played a very big part on how Yen Mah turned out in her later and earlier years as well as everywhere in between. Her grandfathe r Ye-Ye was a constant support to Adeline Yen Mah. In the book Chinese Cinderella it is apparent that Niang has had a positive andRead More Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah1433 Words   |  6 PagesAs the world continues to evolve, there are various social issues that exist. Childhood neglect is problematic in society, especially in China. In Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah exposes the severity of emotional abuse and neglect of children through her personal experiences. Literature addresses this topic through the interactions of the characters and the plot of the novel. She conveys her autobiography through antagonistic characterization and her writing style of point of view and tone. LiteraryRead MoreI Have Discovered Is Adeline Yen Mah s Chinese Cinderella916 Words   |  4 Pageswriting have had an impact on my life unlike any other. Specific writings have prepared me for the journey of life. These pieces of literature consist of, Chinese Cinderella, Life’s for the Living, Forever in our Hearts, an autobiography written by my great-great-grandfather, the phrase ‘Mind over Matter,’ and Project Semicolon. Chinese Cinderella, Life’s for the Living, and Forever in our Hearts have influenced me to be unyielding. The autobiography inspires me to work diligently and never concedeRead MoreChinese Cinderella3586 Words   |  15 PagesT a h r ’N t s eces oe W RITTEN BY SUSAN LA M ARCA Chinese Cinderella Adeline Yen Mah This book is the moving autobiography of a young Chinese girl, Adeline Yen Mah. Born the fifth child to an affluent Chinese family her life begins tragically. Adeline’s mother died shortly after her birth due to complications bought on by the delivery, and in Chinese culture this marks her as cursed or ‘bad luck’ (p.3). This situation is compounded by her father’s new marriage to a lady who has littleRead MoreChinese Cinderella1599 Words   |  7 PagesAdeline’s character: In Chinese Cinderella, there are many instances whereby we can observe positive characteristic of Adeline. Firstly, Adeline is accepting of her situation and is very forgiving. On the first day of school, there was no one taking her to school and after school, â€Å"nobody was coming to pick her up†. However, she does not blame her father for failing to pick her up from school. Not only she is accepting to her situation, she is also very independent. She did not ask for help butRead MoreChinese Cinderella Analysis1398 Words   |  6 Pageshad it worse. Mah was hated by her parents. They even beat her for hanging out with her friends. Even when Mah gets abused by her family, she still yearns to be loved by them. After not being involved in her family’s will, Mah ends up writing Chinese Cinderella, a story about her traumatizing childhood. She never truly tells us her reasons why she wrote this story, but we can infer. Her dedication page was written for the children who weren’t loved by their parents. In Mah’s dedication page, she tellsRead Morechinese cindere lla notes1125 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Chinese Cinderella Study Questions (Chapter 1-11) Chapter 1 (pgs. 1-3) 1. When does this story begin? Autumn, 1941 2. What is Adeline’s great accomplishment in this chapter? She was top of the class. 3. What is Aunt Baba like? Really kind, however very secretive about her sister. 4. What does Aunt Baba keep in her safe deposit box? Why? Jade Bracelet, Pearl Necklace and A diamond watch because they are her ‘treasures’. 5. How did Adeline’s mom die? She died giving birth to Adeline. 6. WhyRead MoreChinese Cinderella Book Review910 Words   |  4 PagesThe book â€Å"Chinese Cinderella† by Adeline Yen Mah is a heart touching true story about an unwanted girl named Adeline, who longed for the compassion and love of her parent’s. While giving birth to Adeline, her mother passed away from child birth complications, leaving her father with five children to care for, including a new born. Four years later, her grandmother Nai Nai also passed away leaving her father no choice but to remarry. Soon after, her father met and fell deeply in love with a womanRead MoreChapter Review of Chinese Cinderella Essay1713 Words   |  7 Pagesreceive tram fares from their parents. Although they promised each other they wouldn’t give in, Big Sister held out for ten days and her three brothers held out for another week before giving in. Adeline wouldn’t and didn’t give in. Chapter 9: Chinese New Year Second Grade – Seven years old. Niang and Father gave Adeline and her siblings’ traditional clothing (‘unpopular’) whilst Niang’s children received stylish Western outfits (‘popular’). The children feel it’s unfair and plan to plot against

Comparing Dante And Aquinas On Happiness - 1377 Words

Live a Diversified Life For Dante and Aquinas, happiness does not only compose a useful life on earth but also in Heaven. Dante and Aquinas were sure that continued use of Aristotle virtues would not land any of their followers in heaven. To increase chances of one entering heaven, Dante and Aquinas developed proposed the incorporation of hope, faith, and charity into the daily virtues that people possess. According to Dante and Aquinas, possession of virtues like good temper and judgement could only lead one to live a good life but not perfect for heaven. Dante and Aquinas specifically based there philosophical thinking on four ideas; perfect ordinary happiness on earth, happiness on earth is not important as compared to happiness in Heaven, following of Aristotle virtues was not a problem to them but it could not help in trying moments, and lastly the importance of perfecting the art of love especially to people One of the major themes which Dante inferno raises is the nature of the virtues. Like the spirits of hell, the spirits that are encountered by Dante have all sinned. The spirits out there were punished because of breaking virtues which were performed by God. Virgil gives Canto X1 a candle to represent good virtues and an axe to represent bad vices. The suffering of the spirits in hell represents the measures enacted by God to ensure that there are consequences to the stipulated laws. The reference of hell to represent bad and heaven to represent good,

Lorraine Hansberry Essay Example For Students

Lorraine Hansberry Essay Lorraine Hansberry rejected the limitations of her race and gender and through her written works, became a social activist and expanded the role of a black woman in America. Lorraine Hansberry wrote many works that allowed her to explain her views. She also explored these ideas through playwrights. Lorraine Hansberry was said to be a spearhead of the future. She was a woman who refused to be confined by the categories of race and gender (Tripp 3). Lorraine Hansberry was born in 1930. Both of her parents were activists challenging discrimination laws. Many famous black people frequently visited her home because of her parents authority (Tripp 2). Two of these famous black Americans that often visited Lorraines home were Paul Robeson and Langston Hughes. They were her shining light so to speak. Especially when it came time for her to find her own place in the New York literary world (Cheney 36). Paul Robeson provided great inspiration for Lorraines writings. On the other hand, Langston Hughes gave her a social consciousness of her poetic possibilities of her own race. He also gave her an appreciation of the black American culture. She had also learned from Hughes that in spite of obstacles, black people remained a powerful force in America (Cheney 46-53). Although the Hansberry family was comfortably settled as middle-class economic status, they were still subject to the racial segregation and discrimination characteristic of the period, and they were most active in opposing it (Smith 147). Lorraines writing career was started in the area of magazines. She was writing for Paul Robesons Freedom magazine. At this time, Lorraine would always say, I was born black and female, these were the twin identities that would dominate her life and her work. This was her source of motivation, by retelling this statement to herself and the others around her. Another concern of hers was the human conditions as blacks experienced it. She spent much of her life making an effort to change these conditions (Cheney 140; Tripp 2). Lorraine Hansberrys first play was named, The Crystal Stair. It was named after a line in the Langston Hughes poem, Mother to Son. Lorraine later changed the title of her play to, A Raisin in the Sun. This was as well taken from one of Langston Hughes pieces, A Dream Deferred (Draper 951). Lorraines second play was named The Sign in Sidney Brusteins Window. This play never matched the success of her first play A Raisin in the Sun. This play did use a realistic format that was drawn from her own life (Magill, Great Women 201). Lorraine wrote at least five plays. All of which revealed the depth of her concern for the black race and for all of the downtrodden races in America and abroad (Cheney 52). Lorraine Hansberry used a realistic style and had a stress on the possibilities for heroism. This stress for heroism within each of her characteristics had everything to do with the purpose that she saw in drama (Magill, Great Women 200) The majority of Lorraines works were about the black family of her time. She showed many important characteristics in each piece. Some of which were the importance of African roots, the equality of women, and the vulnerability of marriage (Draper 953). The play The Crystal Stair, later changed to A Raisin in the Sun, was about a man with a plea for racial tolerance over the incentive society in his time (Draper 950). This was merely based on Lorraines childhood experiences of the disintegrating of white neighborhoods. It also portrayed slavery as uncontrollable and completely the work victimizing institutions designed to exploit cheaper labor. This play also focuses on the problem of what a family should do with $10,000 that a mother receives as an insurance payment after the death of her husband. .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa , .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa .postImageUrl , .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa , .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa:hover , .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa:visited , .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa:active { border:0!important; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa:active , .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u93503b3b7d51110cc416dbd966a33ffa:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Inter Comm EssayLorraine got the idea for that part of the play directly out of her own home, in the way that this was the same problem Lorraines mother faced at the time of her husbands death. (Magill, Gre4at Women 200). Because the play explores a universal theme-the search for the freedom and better life- the majority of its first audience loved the work (Draper 951). A Raisin in the Sun won the award as the Best Play of the Year in the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. By winning this award, Lorraine opened the door for generations to come of black writers who were encouraged by her. She was the first black person as well as the first female to win this award (Tripp 2; Smith 151). A moving testament to the strength and endurance of the human spirit, A Raisin in the Sun, is a quiet celebration of the black family, the importance of African roots, the equality of women, the vulnerability of marriage, the true value of money, the survival of the individual, and the nature of a mans dream (Cheney 53). Lorraine Hansberry used the success she gained from A Raisin in the Sun as a platform to speak out for the American Civil Rights Movement and for the African struggle to free itself from white rule. At this time the whites did not have total control, but felt they were superior to the blacks and other races. She helped raise money, gave impassioned speeches, and took part in panels and interviews to further causes (Tripp 3). Lorraine used her success in away that was useful to the society. Instead of taking the money she earned from her playwrights and keeping it for herself and family, she put it towards the Civil Rights Movements. She used her first play to make her a public figure and she used her new found fame to champion the causes of civil rights and African independence (Magill, Great Women 00). Hansberry succeeded in her goal, which was in creating believable rounded black people. An early interview in the New York Times misquoted her as saying that A Raisin in the Sun, said not a Negro play, and that she was a writer who happened to be a Negro. This caused much commotion in the arts and her life until it was cleared as untrue (Smith 155). After Lorraine Hansberry wrote her few plays, she quickly took on the task of becoming an articulate spokesperson for black Americans in the struggles for civil rights. Lorraine was a well vocal critic of racial discrimination. She also spoke highly of sexual and class discrimination. These themes were the basis for most of her plays and her career (Draper 147). As the Civil Rights Movement intensified, she had the need to help out with anything she could. Hansberry helped plan fundraising events to support organizations such as Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). She publicly agreed that Negroes should defend themselves against terrorist attacks when necessary (Smith 152). Lorraine never gave up her dedication to her work. She began having bad health problems. Although her health was in rapid decline, she greeted 19634 as a year of glorious work. Despite Hansberrys trips in and out of the hospital, she continued with the many projects on her writing schedule (Smith 153). One reporter noted that, The black experience creates a lot of stress, and . A form of cancer can evolve from emotional stress of racism. This was indeed to be the situation of Lorraine Hansberry (Cheney 31). Lorraine struggled to do speeches, but still attempted to remain involved in civil right activities. Lorraine Hansberry was very much both a black and female activist. In being this way, she felt she could do anything that a person with full respect and rights could do. Feeling this way, Lorraine began to claim her identity as a lesbian in a letter, to a lesbian periodical, The Ladder. At the time of her death, the fact that she was a lesbian was not widely known factor to the public, as well as the fact that she had divorced her husband (Tripp 3). .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe , .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe .postImageUrl , .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe , .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe:hover , .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe:visited , .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe:active { border:0!important; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe:active , .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u76a00a33f93c96bbd5b6eab9ea4e3efe:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Epic Of Gilgamesh (746 words) EssayLorraine Hansberrys career was very brief. She died of cancer at the age of 34 years. Only two of her plays were produced in her lifetime, yet she did record some very impressive theatrical achievements. As mentioned earlier, she was the first black person, the youngest person, and the first woman to win the New York Drama Critics Award which was voted Best Play. Since Hansberry, no writer has captured the spectrum, depths, and heights of the black experiences as she did (Cheney 65). This scholar feels that Lorraine Hansberry has given each and every one of us a chance to do what we fell is best for ourselves. It is a shame that Lorraine Hansberry died at such a young age because this writer feels that she would have added great hope and dignity to the world we live in today. Lorraine Hansberry did not allow the restrictions of her race and gender to hold her back from becoming the woman she wanted to be. Lorraine used these two limitations to unlock the door for others to follow in her footsteps and further the goals she helped to establish.