Waverly (Meimei) has a love/hate type of relationship with her mother, although "love/hate" might be too strong. She loves and admires her mother but is increasingly frustrated with how her mother attempts to control her life and show her off. Waverly's mother imparts her Chinese wisdom and her interpretation of American cultural and social "rules" to her children so that they will be successful. Waverly acknowledges this advice and uses it. "I was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. It was a strategy for winning arguments, respect from others, and eventually, though neither of us knew it at the time, chess games." Their home is warm and clean and they always have food to eat. In general and regarding her chess career, Waverly appreciates her mother's support. But as time goes by and Waverly craves a more independent life, she pulls away from her mother. This is a natural part of the maturing process, but Waverly frames it in another way. She doesn't like how her mother shows her off or how she lives vicariously through Waverly's success in playing chess.
The story ends with Waverly wondering about her next move. Waverly must negotiate her mother's rules and her own "rules." That is, she wants to remain loved and connected to her mother, but she also wants independence. So, it might be more appropriate to say her relationship with her mother is polarizing. She feels both pulled towards and drawn away from her.
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