Chinese Cinderella

Chinese Cinderella

by

Adeline Yen Mah

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Chinese Cinderella makes teaching easy.
Father is a wealthy businessman, husband of Niang, and father of Adeline and her siblings. Father is depicted as largely negligent of his own children, concerned more with his success as a businessman and his honor in the community. The rare occasions when he shows Adeline any affection are only when she brings him honor by winning academic awards. Aside from those instances, Father is either neglectful or abusive of Adeline: he forgets her own name, cruelly kills her pet duckling PLT for his own pleasure, beats her with a dog whip, and constantly tells her she will amount to nothing. Father’s only loyalty is to Niang, even at the expense of his own children or his father, Ye Ye. He cooperates with Niang’s various schemes to humiliate and oppress the five children of his first marriage, and, after the death of his mother Nai Nai, he orders all pictures of his first wife—the mother of his children—destroyed and forbids anyone from speaking about her. This indicates his desire to put his past life behind him and commit himself fully to Niang, even at the expense of his children. However, Father faces pressures of his own. When the Japanese occupy Tianjin, he is pressured to submit to making them his business partners. He resists this and, fearing for his life, flees to Shanghai and hides there for years, leaving most of his family behind for a significant portion of that time. Like Niang, Father is depicted as having little development over the course of the story. Though he does finally recognize Adeline’s potential after she wins the playwriting contest, this seems to be less out of recognition of her value and more out of appreciation for the honor that he receives through her accomplishments.

Father (Joseph Yen) Quotes in Chinese Cinderella

The Chinese Cinderella quotes below are all either spoken by Father (Joseph Yen) or refer to Father (Joseph Yen). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Physical and Emotional Abuse Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1: Top of the Class Quotes

“But then Mama died giving birth to you. If you had not been born, Mama would still be alive. She died because of you. You are bad luck.”

Related Characters: Big Sister (Lydia) (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang, Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen), Third Brother (James), Big Brother (Gregory), Second Brother (Edgar)
Page Number: 3
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3: Nai Nai’s Bound Feet Quotes

“I had a pair of perfectly normal feet when I was born, but they maimed me on purpose and gave me arthritis so I would be attractive.”

Related Characters: Grandmother Nai Nai (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang, Father (Joseph Yen)
Page Number: 8
Explanation and Analysis:

“Is this medal for leading your class?” he asked.

I nodded eagerly, too excited to speak. A hush fell upon the table. This was the first time anyone could remember Father singling me out or saying anything to me…

“Continue studying hard and bring honor to our Yen family name so we can be proud of you.”

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Father (Joseph Yen) (speaker)
Page Number: 11
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5: Arrival in Shanghai Quotes

As we climbed the stairs, Big Brother muttered, “To her, we are not separate people. Here we have become one single unit known as all of you. Seems like this is how it’s going to be from now on.”

Related Characters: Big Brother (Gregory) (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang, Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen), Big Sister (Lydia), Second Brother (Edgar)
Page Number: 25
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6: First Day at School Quotes

“Next time you go anywhere for the first time,” he admonished as he handed me a map of Shanghai from the glove compartment of his car, “read this map and find where you are and where you wish to go. This way you’ll never get lost again.”

Related Characters: Father (Joseph Yen) (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang
Page Number: 31
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11: PLT Quotes

“Since it’s so hot tonight,” Father suggested, “why don’t we all cool off in the garden after dinner? It will also give us a a chance to test Jackie’s obedience.” He turned to Big Brother. “Go fetch one of those ducklings…We’ll have some fun tonight!”

Related Characters: Father (Joseph Yen) (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang, Big Brother (Gregory)
Related Symbols: PLT
Page Number: 81
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13: A Birthday Party Quotes

Finally, I sat there with my eyes tightly shut, wishing with all my heart that when I opened them again, I would be Jackie and Jackie would be me.

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen)
Page Number: 104
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14: Class President Quotes

“It’s because we won the election today. I’m now class president. We worked hard at it—”

Niang interrupted me in the middle of my explanation. “Stop bragging!” she screamed. “Who do you think you are? … You are getting altogether too proud and conceited! No matter what you consider yourself to be, you are nothing without your father. Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!”

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen)
Related Symbols: The Holy of Holies
Page Number: 117
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 17: Boarding School in Hong Kong Quotes

Afterward, Ye Ye and I sat by ourselves on the long couch, not saying a word. I looked at my grandfather defeated and resigned with a blanket around his drooping shoulders in the blistering heat, his face contorted with sadness and anguish. A tired old man with no one to turn to, imprisoned by his love for his only son.

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen), Grandfather Ye Ye, Fourth Brother (Franklin)
Page Number: 159
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 20: Pneumonia Quotes

“Don’t talk like that! … 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 on top of your class merely confirms this. But you can vanquish the demons only when you yourself are convinced of your own worth.”

Related Characters: Grandfather Ye Ye (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang, Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen), Third Brother (James)
Page Number: 181
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21: Playwriting Competition Quotes

Into her lips I injected my loneliness, isolation, and feeling of being unwanted. To my heroine I gave everything of myself.

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Father (Joseph Yen), Grandfather Ye Ye
Page Number: 184
Explanation and Analysis:

Father looked radiant. For once, he was proud of me. In front of his revered colleague…I had given him face.

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Father (Joseph Yen)
Related Symbols: The Holy of Holies
Page Number: 192
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Chinese Cinderella LitChart as a printable PDF.
Chinese Cinderella PDF

Father (Joseph Yen) Quotes in Chinese Cinderella

The Chinese Cinderella quotes below are all either spoken by Father (Joseph Yen) or refer to Father (Joseph Yen). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Physical and Emotional Abuse Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1: Top of the Class Quotes

“But then Mama died giving birth to you. If you had not been born, Mama would still be alive. She died because of you. You are bad luck.”

Related Characters: Big Sister (Lydia) (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang, Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen), Third Brother (James), Big Brother (Gregory), Second Brother (Edgar)
Page Number: 3
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3: Nai Nai’s Bound Feet Quotes

“I had a pair of perfectly normal feet when I was born, but they maimed me on purpose and gave me arthritis so I would be attractive.”

Related Characters: Grandmother Nai Nai (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang, Father (Joseph Yen)
Page Number: 8
Explanation and Analysis:

“Is this medal for leading your class?” he asked.

I nodded eagerly, too excited to speak. A hush fell upon the table. This was the first time anyone could remember Father singling me out or saying anything to me…

“Continue studying hard and bring honor to our Yen family name so we can be proud of you.”

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Father (Joseph Yen) (speaker)
Page Number: 11
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5: Arrival in Shanghai Quotes

As we climbed the stairs, Big Brother muttered, “To her, we are not separate people. Here we have become one single unit known as all of you. Seems like this is how it’s going to be from now on.”

Related Characters: Big Brother (Gregory) (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang, Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen), Big Sister (Lydia), Second Brother (Edgar)
Page Number: 25
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6: First Day at School Quotes

“Next time you go anywhere for the first time,” he admonished as he handed me a map of Shanghai from the glove compartment of his car, “read this map and find where you are and where you wish to go. This way you’ll never get lost again.”

Related Characters: Father (Joseph Yen) (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang
Page Number: 31
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11: PLT Quotes

“Since it’s so hot tonight,” Father suggested, “why don’t we all cool off in the garden after dinner? It will also give us a a chance to test Jackie’s obedience.” He turned to Big Brother. “Go fetch one of those ducklings…We’ll have some fun tonight!”

Related Characters: Father (Joseph Yen) (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang, Big Brother (Gregory)
Related Symbols: PLT
Page Number: 81
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13: A Birthday Party Quotes

Finally, I sat there with my eyes tightly shut, wishing with all my heart that when I opened them again, I would be Jackie and Jackie would be me.

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen)
Page Number: 104
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14: Class President Quotes

“It’s because we won the election today. I’m now class president. We worked hard at it—”

Niang interrupted me in the middle of my explanation. “Stop bragging!” she screamed. “Who do you think you are? … You are getting altogether too proud and conceited! No matter what you consider yourself to be, you are nothing without your father. Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!”

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen)
Related Symbols: The Holy of Holies
Page Number: 117
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 17: Boarding School in Hong Kong Quotes

Afterward, Ye Ye and I sat by ourselves on the long couch, not saying a word. I looked at my grandfather defeated and resigned with a blanket around his drooping shoulders in the blistering heat, his face contorted with sadness and anguish. A tired old man with no one to turn to, imprisoned by his love for his only son.

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen), Grandfather Ye Ye, Fourth Brother (Franklin)
Page Number: 159
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 20: Pneumonia Quotes

“Don’t talk like that! … 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 on top of your class merely confirms this. But you can vanquish the demons only when you yourself are convinced of your own worth.”

Related Characters: Grandfather Ye Ye (speaker), Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang, Niang (Jeanne Prosperi), Father (Joseph Yen), Third Brother (James)
Page Number: 181
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21: Playwriting Competition Quotes

Into her lips I injected my loneliness, isolation, and feeling of being unwanted. To my heroine I gave everything of myself.

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Father (Joseph Yen), Grandfather Ye Ye
Page Number: 184
Explanation and Analysis:

Father looked radiant. For once, he was proud of me. In front of his revered colleague…I had given him face.

Related Characters: Adeline Yen (Jun-Ling / Wu-Mei)Niang (speaker), Father (Joseph Yen)
Related Symbols: The Holy of Holies
Page Number: 192
Explanation and Analysis: