Literary Term: I found the setting of where this chapter takes place and where Waverly Jong grew up. "We lived on Waverly Place, in a warm, clean, two-bedroom flat that sat above a small Chinese bakery specializing in steamed pastries and dim sum (89-90)." "We lived in San Francisco's Chinatown (89)." I believe the purpose of Tan's use of setting is to help the reader understand where the story is taking place.
Quote from novel: " 'Ma, it's not how many pieces you lose. Sometimes you need to lose pieces to get ahead (97).' "
In chapter 5, Waverly has become a national chess champion, competiting in tournaments, and is hovered over by her mother giving her tips. Waverly's entire childhood is shaped from her new talent for chess. However, her mother takes great pride in her daughter's successes and it iritates Waverly. Her mother is always around to correct, give pointers, and watch Waverly play chess. At one point, Waverly's mother tries to convince her to win more and lose less. To this Waverly says, " 'Ma, it's not how many pieces you lose. Sometimes you need to lose pieces to get ahead.' " By this, Waverly is meaning that you can't win everything you set out to do. At times, one doesn't win until after they've experienced much loss. Oftentimes, those losses can actually help motivate and inspire a person to get ahead. This reminds me of a quote. This quote states: "If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain."-Dolly Parton. I think this quote helps explain that one must have suffering and hardship before winning and getting ahead. I've always been taught, you win some, you lose some.
I think Bailey's analysis of this particualar quote from "Rules of the Game" is very intersting and thoughtful. The first time that I read this section of the book, I did not pay much attention to this quote; rather, I simply saw it as a feeble attempt by Waverly to explain the game of chess to her mother. After reading Bailey's view, however, I see that much more meaning can be found in this quote. The fact that a person will often have to accept struggles in his life before accomplishing a victory is inevitable, and this quote from "Rules of the Game," as well as Dolly Parton's comment, bring this simple truth to mind.
ReplyDeleteWaverly Jong's quote and Dolly Parton's quote are truths that are sometimes hard to face. Though losing is hard for us to do, it is sometimes necessary for us to win. This world has much suffering, but what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I agree with Amanda when she said she realized that this quote had more to explain about life than chess. I really enjoyed this chapter, and Bailey was able to give it a new point of view for me to see.
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