Lindo and Waverly Jong’s viewpoints on almost everything are similar yet different from each other. This is in part to Waverly’s inherited traits of being incredibly independent, and stubborn, not a very good pair. Waverly loves to show off her independence saying things like, ‘“Don’t be so old fashioned, Ma,” she said to me, finishing her coffee down the sink. “I’m my own person.”’ (Tan, Page 254) Even though Waverly is a very independent person, she still looks to her mom for approval, “When we met at Four Directions Restaurant, she eyed my with immediate disapproval.” (Tan, Page 166)
All her life, Lindo was trying to give her daughter american opportunities, but also to give her chinese character. She feels like she has failed at this because …show more content…
She’s stuck to the metaphor that the wind is the embodiment of stealth and hidden strength, ‘“In Chinese we say, Come from South, blow with wind -poom!- North will follow. Strongest wind cannot be seen.”’ (Tan, Page 89) Lindo craftily snuck her way out of the arranged marriage, and everyone was happy. She got to move to America, a servant girl got her marriage, and the mother-in-law got her grandson. Lindo views everything with a sense that if you stay quiet and in the background and hold back, until the opposing least expect it, you will win. Part of her character is that she needs everything to be the best, her crafty mind allows her to balance this with other commitments, like respect to elders. Waverly has inherited maybe the worst possible combination from her mother, independence and stubbornness. She is extremely independant, wanting to take control of every situation, but when it comes to her mother, she is like a little kid again. While Lindo knows the art of invisible strength, but also …show more content…
When my mother finished her shopping, she quietly plucked a small bag of plums from the rack and put it on the counter with the rest of the items.” (Tan, Page 89) Biting back your tongue, being humble, careful planning. These are all parts to the art of invisible strength. Waiting in the background, using other’s mistakes, no matter how small, waiting for the right time to strike, you will gain the advantage. This theme is shown throughout the book, mainly when Waverly is playing chess, but also when Lindo legally broke out of her arranged marriage, and almost any other time in their stories. ‘“To our family friends who visited she visited she would confide, “You don't have to be so smart to win chess. It is just tricks. You blow from the North, South, East, and West. The other person becomes confused. They don’t know which way to run.”’ (Tan, Page 170) The art of invisible strength applies to everything, be it chess, school, or even to family. It is a strength of the mind, not of the body. Holding back is hard for most people, but when they can master it, they gain the advantage in most things they do. Waverly defeated her opponents one by one
All her life, Lindo was trying to give her daughter american opportunities, but also to give her chinese character. She feels like she has failed at this because …show more content…
She’s stuck to the metaphor that the wind is the embodiment of stealth and hidden strength, ‘“In Chinese we say, Come from South, blow with wind -poom!- North will follow. Strongest wind cannot be seen.”’ (Tan, Page 89) Lindo craftily snuck her way out of the arranged marriage, and everyone was happy. She got to move to America, a servant girl got her marriage, and the mother-in-law got her grandson. Lindo views everything with a sense that if you stay quiet and in the background and hold back, until the opposing least expect it, you will win. Part of her character is that she needs everything to be the best, her crafty mind allows her to balance this with other commitments, like respect to elders. Waverly has inherited maybe the worst possible combination from her mother, independence and stubbornness. She is extremely independant, wanting to take control of every situation, but when it comes to her mother, she is like a little kid again. While Lindo knows the art of invisible strength, but also …show more content…
When my mother finished her shopping, she quietly plucked a small bag of plums from the rack and put it on the counter with the rest of the items.” (Tan, Page 89) Biting back your tongue, being humble, careful planning. These are all parts to the art of invisible strength. Waiting in the background, using other’s mistakes, no matter how small, waiting for the right time to strike, you will gain the advantage. This theme is shown throughout the book, mainly when Waverly is playing chess, but also when Lindo legally broke out of her arranged marriage, and almost any other time in their stories. ‘“To our family friends who visited she visited she would confide, “You don't have to be so smart to win chess. It is just tricks. You blow from the North, South, East, and West. The other person becomes confused. They don’t know which way to run.”’ (Tan, Page 170) The art of invisible strength applies to everything, be it chess, school, or even to family. It is a strength of the mind, not of the body. Holding back is hard for most people, but when they can master it, they gain the advantage in most things they do. Waverly defeated her opponents one by one