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
Two years later, in 1951, Adeline sits in Catholic mass reflecting on how much she despises Sundays. After mass, all the students go to the dining hall for breakfast. On Sundays, students’ families may bring a fresh egg for them to eat for breakfast as a special treat since eggs are unavailable otherwise. Adeline’s family has never brought her an egg, but on this particular Sunday, the nun calls out her student number, telling her that there is an egg that has been delivered for her. Adeline assumes it must be a mistake, and even when she receives the egg with her number written on it, she gives it back, explaining that it could not possibly be for her.
Adeline has become so accustomed to neglect that she cannot even consider the possibility that someone would have brought an egg for her. Although it will be revealed that she is right, this demonstrates the tragic way that such long-standing emotional abuse and neglect can have a powerful impact on one’s self-conception and view of reality: Adeline has only ever been devalued by her parents and never given a gift, thus, even if a gift comes, it seems inconceivable to her. Rather than accept the anomaly and receive the gift, she rejects it, believing she is not someone who could ever receive an egg.
Themes
The leading student at Adeline’s school is Monica Lim, the daughter of Hong Kong’s wealthiest businessman. She is tall, beautiful, stylish, and doted upon by her parents and the nuns. Although Monica is three years older than Adeline, Adeline begins to surpass her as a writer and a student. Monica resents her for this, chastising Adeline for her shabby clothing, since Adeline has only worn-out sneakers and an old, ill-fitting dress to wear. Adeline is ashamed about her appearance, but feels powerless to do anything about it.
As Adeline’s main rival, Monica is an obvious foil to Adeline and a representative of most of the things that Adeline is not: stylish, pretty, and well-cared for. However, Adeline possesses several qualities that Monica does not: kindness, compassion, and simplicity. This suggests that, though Adeline may wish to be doted on as Monica is, the strength of her character has been better developed in the absence of Monica’s privilege.
Themes
The nuns announce that this Sunday, being the last of the term, visiting hours will be extended. All of the boarders except for Adeline are happy about this, but Adeline is embarrassed to never have visitors and hides in the library instead. As Adeline is waiting out the visiting hours by reading King Lear, another boarder enters the library with her mother, giving her a tour of the place. The girl’s mother is impressed that Adeline is studying on a Sunday, though Adeline insists that she is only reading for pleasure. She is ashamed by how odd she must look, and even more ashamed when the other girl mentions that Adeline had burst out crying when they had studied King Lear in class, having been so overwhelmed by the “poetry and pathos” of it and the way it astutely described Ye Ye’s imprisonment in Father and Niang’s house. Adeline makes a false pretense to escape the library and the conversation.
This is another strong development of the power of stories, demonstrating another potent way in which stories, both told and read, can provide hope and comfort to people in traumatic or overwhelming situations. Adeline has watched the pain of Ye Ye for years as his position in the family has been reduced further and further until he is nothing—his own son does not even appear concerned for his safety or wellbeing. Through Shakespeare’s words, Adeline finds an outlet to feel the pain she has so far repressed, unable to express the complexity of it herself. King Lear provides a valuable cipher through which Adeline can feel her grief, since it has already been put to words by someone else.
Themes
Adeline retreats to a bathroom stall to read in privacy. However, while she is in there, two girls enter and Adeline overhears them discussing how one of the girls had repainted Adeline’s number on her own egg that morning, since she was sick of eating them. They continue to discuss what they think of Adeline—not knowing that she is eavesdropping. They say that she is a little pathetic, since she never gets visitors or letters and wears shabby clothing, but she is also obviously brilliant, even more so than Monica. Because of this, both girls think that Adeline will turn out okay, despite her pitiable demeanor.
Although Adeline turns out to be right about no one having delivered an egg for her, for the reader, the scene is nonetheless tragic. The indication is that, although much of Adeline’s lack of self-esteem, especially as it has been shaped by Niang, is based on false premises (that she is stupid, ugly, and worthless) her feelings of being unloved are accurate. Even the brief ray of hope—that someone cared enough to bring her an egg—turns out to only be a mistake.
Themes
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Adeline emerges once the girls have left, feeling a strange mix of emotions. She is saddened to think that she is an object of other’s pity, but at the same time recognizes the “hint of respect in their sentiments” and knows that she has made an impression with her intelligence. She returns to her bed and pulls the curtain around it for privacy, wondering if her peers also know that she reads under her covers many nights because she cannot bear the terrifying thoughts and sleepless hours that often stalk her in the darkness.
Beyond her struggle with self-worth, which is apparent, the fact that Adeline is haunted by Niang and Father’s abuse even after two years of being away from them demonstrates the long reach of emotional abuse and trauma. Though Adeline is safe from beatings and is well-fed by the boarding school, the emotional trauma she has endured still haunts her.
Themes
