Rules Of The Game By Amy Tan
“Rules of the Game”
“Rules of the Game” was written by Amy Tan. This short story takes place in Chinatown district of San Francisco during the 1950’s. Waverly was known as the child prodigy after she grew interest of chess while her brothers were playing it one day. Her brother, Vincent, had received a used chess set that were also missing some pieces from a Baptist Church Christmas Party that her family had attended. Waverly, being six years old, learns to play chess and becomes a national chess champion by her ninth birthday. She learns the complexity of the game from a man she met on the streets.
The theme of heritage is important. Mrs. Jong takes great pride in being Chinese. She explains that "Chinese people do many
things. Chinese people do business, do medicine, do painting. Not lazy like American people. We do torture. Best torture." Mrs. Jong enjoys showing her daughter off to everyone to show how proud she is of Waverly to have this legacy. Waverly doesn't understand why her mother has to show off to everyone about her. Waverly thinks she accomplished this success on her own when her mother was also involved in the stiuation.
In the second paragraph the sentence “Wise guy, he not go against wind.” It shows that in her mind the wind has a very great strength. She also said that the strongest wind cannot be seen. This sentence refers to invisible strength. It means that the invisible strength is the strongest strength there could be. Although it cannot be seen, it has a very great strength.
At the age of six, Waverly’s mother teaches her the art of invisible strength. However, she is young and had not realized what this had meant. It was a strategy for winning arguments, respect from others, and eventually, chess games. This art of invisible strength is self-control. Mrs. Jong taught Waverly this tool to win the battles of life that she will have to face when she grows up.
“Rules of the Game” was written by Amy Tan. This short story takes place in Chinatown district of San Francisco during the 1950’s. Waverly was known as the child prodigy after she grew interest of chess while her brothers were playing it one day. Her brother, Vincent, had received a used chess set that were also missing some pieces from a Baptist Church Christmas Party that her family had attended. Waverly, being six years old, learns to play chess and becomes a national chess champion by her ninth birthday. She learns the complexity of the game from a man she met on the streets.
The theme of heritage is important. Mrs. Jong takes great pride in being Chinese. She explains that "Chinese people do many
things. Chinese people do business, do medicine, do painting. Not lazy like American people. We do torture. Best torture." Mrs. Jong enjoys showing her daughter off to everyone to show how proud she is of Waverly to have this legacy. Waverly doesn't understand why her mother has to show off to everyone about her. Waverly thinks she accomplished this success on her own when her mother was also involved in the stiuation.
In the second paragraph the sentence “Wise guy, he not go against wind.” It shows that in her mind the wind has a very great strength. She also said that the strongest wind cannot be seen. This sentence refers to invisible strength. It means that the invisible strength is the strongest strength there could be. Although it cannot be seen, it has a very great strength.
At the age of six, Waverly’s mother teaches her the art of invisible strength. However, she is young and had not realized what this had meant. It was a strategy for winning arguments, respect from others, and eventually, chess games. This art of invisible strength is self-control. Mrs. Jong taught Waverly this tool to win the battles of life that she will have to face when she grows up.