The Analysis of The Short Story "Rules of Games" by Amy Tan

I have decided to analyse the short story rules of games by Amy Tan.This critical essay is informative and its sole purpose sole is to emphasize author’s literary work.Development of central ideas cultural conflict and identity moreover the continuous psychological bettle between daughter and mother are the main stages of this essay.

Analysis

In this story: Waverly has to hold her tongue(i.e.remain silent to win;self control)to get candies as the reward and these forbidden candies are representation of the condition by social and physical elements.Waverly’s mother has taught her about the”…..art of invisible strength;it was a strategy for winning arguments,respect from others”(1423)and also about the wind which represented the ancestral wisdom,inner strength and represented courage it also represented one’s conscience which is important for chinese people.The cultural identity is depicted by Waverly’s mother’s dignity of being a chinese ,by her mentality that chinese culture is better than american.”Chinese people do business,do medicine,do paintiry.We do torture.Best torture”(1425).Waverly’s mother educated her children to exercise silence and power over their true emotions.She taught them to appreciate unwanted gifts as the second hand chess set.

According the differences in gender according to chinese culture.Waverly recieves a petite nicknames as such”meimei”which is chinese for little sister whereas hewr brother’s have deep and vibrant sobriquet as such winston and vincent.Waverly’s mother took pride in her daughter of being the national chess champion and asserting that chinese people do everything better. The cultural conflict is depicted by Waverly being named after her family’s address “Waverly place “ and thus their claims to the United States. Moreover her mother on the contrary to the chinese gender roles change rules in the household as Waverly is allowed to devote all of her time on chess and it is relieved all of doing of dishes testifying to it as as “new american rules “(1428) whereas now her brother are accountable for it.

The unfinished psychological battle between daughter and mother is portrayed by the struggle of control from Waverly consider’s her mother as opponent as she states “I could see the yellow lights shinning from our flat like two tigers eyes in the night”(1430) and considers herself the victim of her mothers invisible powers.She confronts her mother during their shopping voyage”I wish you wouldn’t do that ,telling everybody I am your daughter.”She also says “why do you have to use me to show off? If you want to showoff why don’t you learn to play chess?”

According to her mother’s thinking ,Waverly’s success is their family’s success whereas Waverly’s American beliefs her accomplishments is her own individuals success.She is ashamed of her mother’s ,her family and race.When Waverly’s request to less ostentation her mother calls her a stupid girl. Therefore her mother exercise,her invisible powers and thus gives her silence treatment by pretending to ignore Waverly’s existence.ConclusionAccording to my thesis statement”The rules of the gamer of life “also depicts the mental prison that seeks individual accomplishments.This is game of life and Waverly is learning to apply the rules in real life taught by her mother.She understands she must emphasize her individuality but that can only be done by isolating from her family.