Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Chinese Cinderella, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Physical and Emotional Abuse
Coming of Age and Self-Worth
The Power of Stories
Toxic Family
Friendship
Summary
Analysis
In September 1948, after summer recess, Wu Chun-mei starts “begging” Adeline to come over to her house for her birthday party. Adeline keeps refusing, since Niang has forbade her from going to any friends’ houses. Chun-mei persists, insisting that it doesn’t even have to be on her actual birthday, simply any day that is convenient for Adeline. When Adeline’s teacher tells their class that they will have a special holiday next week, even though all the other students in Shanghai will still be in school, Adeline suggests that they have the party on the upcoming holiday. Although she immediately regrets the suggestion, Chun-mei is instantly thrilled, and six other friends want to go specifically because Adeline will be there.
Wu Chun-mei exhibits a powerful affection for Adeline and shows her the love that Adeline’s family does not. That Chun-mei does not care what day they celebrate her birthday as long as Adeline can join in indicates that she cherishes Adeline more than the party itself. This is a love that none of Adeline’s sibling or parents have ever shown. This again demonstrates the way in which good friends are a vital resource for people in difficult situations, in this case partially compensating for the lost love and affirmation of parents and siblings.
Themes
Planning out their day, the girls determine that they will all wear their school uniforms and meet at the school, then proceed to Wu Chun-mei’s house. None of the others know that Adeline is going in secret, hiding the fact from her parents. The next day, they all go to Chun-mei’s house and spend the morning having a wonderful time together. However, at noon Adeline realizes that her family will be expecting her home for lunch. Chun-Mei is disappointed but Adeline is insistent, fearing that Niang will discover the ruse. As Adeline is hastily leaving, she thoughtlessly gives Chun-mei her phone number and promises she will be back soon.
The stress and secrecy that Adeline feels the need to constantly endure is an indicator of the emotional trauma of abuse. Even if Niang or Father is not striking her, Niang has taken dominion over her mind, invading each thought and making something so innocent as a childhood birthday party a source of terror and fear. This strongly suggests that the emotional aspect of abuse has a longer reach than the physical aspect of it. Even when not in Niang’s presence, the threat of her wrath is a constant burden for Adeline.
Themes
Adeline arrives home earlier than she would have on a normal school day and Niang is instantly suspicious. Adeline also has a silver dollar in her pocket that Aunt Baba had secretly given her, with which she meant to buy a present for Wu Chun-mei. However, Niang notices that there is something in her pocket and demands to know where the money came from, accusing Adeline of thievery and beating her when she will not give up Aunt Baba. As this is happening, the maid arrives to tell Niang that there is a telephone call for Adeline, and Adeline realizes with horror that Chun-mei has grown impatient and called to check on her. Niang answers the phone and discovers Adeline’s ruse, telling Chun-mei on the phone that Adeline won’t be returning.
Niang’s instant suspicion of Adeline arriving home early and further accusations that she is a thief are themselves emotionally abusive. Adeline has not behaved in a way to merit such immediate skepticism, and yet she is immediately put on trial. Home is thus never a safe place for Adeline but a place of fear, whether she has anything to hide or not. Also, Niang’s fury that Adeline might possess something as innocuous as a silver dollar further demonstrates her desire for absolute control and absolute oppression over every aspect of Adeline’s life.
Themes
Niang confines Adeline to her room until Father gets home, telling her that she has her dead mother’s “bad blood” and will never amount to anything, nor even does she deserve to be fed and housed by Father. As Adeline waits, she can hear Fourth Brother and Little Sister feeding Jackie their unwanted food and finds herself with eyes shut, “wishing with all my heart that when I opened them again, I would be Jackie and Jackie would be me.” Father later arrives, furious, and beats her with a dog whip as she lays facedown on her bed. Father announces that Aunt Baba is obviously a “bad influence” and thus Adeline must be separated from her. Adeline is crushed.
The emotional abuse that Niang inflicts is horrific. Although the beatings are bad and painful, more destructive still is Niang constantly demeaning Adeline and teaching her that she is worthless, ripping apart her sense of self-worth. As will be seen throughout the memoir, this low view of herself will plague Adeline throughout her childhood and prove to be the greatest wound that she receives from her parents. That she finds herself wishing that she were Father’s dog—since Jackie is well-fed and receives affection—is a tragic indication of how little Adeline has come to think of herself.
Themes
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