Homework Help: English: Books, Novels & Plays: Chinese Cinderella

Autobiographies introduce responders to different cultures and new situations. Discuss.

Autobiographies or personal memoirs intend recount life experiences and therefore enlighten responders with various circumstances and lifestyles. Therefore they introduce responders to cultural diversity evident in the novel Chinese Cinderella which depicts a male dominated society and the insular nature of family groups in China. New situations that included were that biological children were valued over stepchildren and the importance and value of education.

The male dominated nature of Chinese Cinderella displays a part of Chinese culture and society. Men worked and thereby gave them economic power and were largely responsible for distribution of wealth. Adeline's stepmother, Niang constantly reminds her stepchildren that "your father works so hard to support everyone under this roof" pg 44. Male children were also valued over females. They received better clothing and a better education. In the novel, Adeline's brothers were sent to England for their tertiary studies while Adeline had to plead until she acquired an approval. "Please father," I asked boldly, thinking it was now or never. "May I go to university in England too, just like my brothers?" pg 220.

As demonstrated in the novel, biological children were valued and stepchildren were considered less important. Birth children were given extra meals, better clothes, stylish hairstyles and luxurious bedrooms. The birth children usually never combined with the stepchildren and remained separate. Biological children were given first priority for all decisions to be made by the children. For instance, pg 84 ".... As usual, Fourth Brother picked first followed by Little Sister ... " (Adeline's step siblings). Stepchildren were also denied of privileges such as pocket money for tram fares to make their way to school. As indicated on pg 84 "... From now on, all of you are forbidden to go behind our backs to trouble Ye Ye or Aunt Baba for money. Do you hear?...".

The strong insular nature of family groups is also portrayed in Chinese Cinderella. Most decisions about the children are made by the parents; including which school they attend, what degree they choose in university and even who they should marry when they are adults. The children are constantly been taught to accept the decisions that are being made for them by the parents repeatedly telling them "it was for their own good". This granted the parents command over their children. An insular nature of a Chinese family is also exhibited in Chinese Cinderella. Although, there would be certain problems at home, the children never expressed difficulties to one another at school. As presented in the novel, Adeline was very protective of her difficulties at home and never conveyed them to her friends at school. In one case in the novel, her friends visit her home; her friends can not believe the cruelty that is taking place in Adeline's home. pg 129 "... As she filed past the stairway she shouted towards the Holy of Holies, 'This is unfair. You're cruel and barbaric! I'll tell my father!'" One of Adeline's friends shouted at Niang.

In Chinese Cinderella the responder is also familiarised with the value of education in China. As represented in the novel, most people are fond of having a strong education so that they will earn great wealth when they are adults. The parents care about their children's education and how they are achieving at school. The children are concerned about their studies as well. The competitive nature of the children at Chinese schools is demonstrated by Adeline in the novel. Adeline also believes herself that if she studies, everything will become better one day. In the novel Adeline's father once tells her; pg12, "... Then he said, 'Continue studying hard and bringing honour to our Yen family name so we can be proud of you,'" Adeline then thinks to herself: "I must study harder and keep wearing this medal so I can go on pleasing Father..."

Autobiographies aim to describe life experiences which introduce responders to assorted cultures and new situations. This is clearly exhibited in Adeline Yen Mah's novel, Chinese Cinderella. Cultural Chinese traditions such as a male dominated society and the strong insular nature of family groups are evident in the autobiography. Also shown, are situations where biological children were valued over stepchildren and the significance of a good quality education.

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