Character Analysis: Chinese Cinderella

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing.” This quote by Pele, a soccer player regarded as one of the best of all time, describes the determination that it took for Adeline to succeed and overcome her childhood. In the memoir, Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah, the author writes about the support from Ye Ye, Aunt Baba, and also rising above her abusive childhood.
Ye Ye is one of the reasons why Adeline was able to succeed. Adeline’s grandfather stated, “‘I ordered the maids to set up a cot in my room at once. While Niang is in this euphoric mood, quickly unpack your bag and settle in before she changes her mind about your staying here’”(Yen Mah 148). Ye Ye loves Wu Mei so much that he sacrifices part of his room for her. He also went behind
Wu Mei recounted, “While I was basking in Third Brother’s praise, I suddenly felt a hard blow across the back of my head. I turned around to see Second Brother glowering at me”(9). Second Brother thinks Adeline is overconfident and because she is Niang’s youngest stepchild, the other step children can get away with mistreating Adeline. To Niang’s stepchildren, Wu Mei is considered bad luck so when she succeeds at anything they feel the need to make her feel useless in every way. Adeline provided a detailed description of the beating of Little Sister, “Her blows landed indiscriminately on Little Sister’s ears, cheeks, neck and head. Everyone cowered as the punishment went on and on”(34). Adeline’s family has no qualms about beating their children and seem to find it the best disciplinary measure. The beating of one of Niang’s children is almost unheard of which frightens the mistreated step children especially Wu Mei. Aunt Baba and Ye Ye were the only people in Adeline’s life who wanted the best for her and believed she would