Chinese Cinderella Quotes

Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah is a depressing story because of how Adeline is treated and how she is unwanted. “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty”(Mother Teresa). In this story Adeline feels lonely and unwanted, there are a few friends that she has to get through the day. Adeline's family doesn't care for her feelings but they punish her for small things. And Adeline's siblings constantly tease her and annoy her, they don't do anything that is nice for her.

A depressing and sad event in this book was about PLT. PLT was Adeline's pet bird and it died. Adeline was the last to choose from the 7 birds. “By the time my turn had arrived, I was left with the tiniest, scrawniest baby bird” (Yen Mah pg. 73). This quote shows that PLT is tiny and weak. It also shows that Adeline had no choice of what bird to pick. Then Father wanted to test Jackie’s, the German shepherd, obedience training. “In one powerful leap, he broke away from Father’s restraint, and pounced on PLT who looked up at me
“I almost screamed out in terror but bit my lip and remained silent for the rest of my punishment”(Yen Mah pg. 104). This is important because it tells that Father also abused Adeline along with Niang. “He ordered me to lie face down on my bed and whipped me”(Yen Mah pg.104). This will tell the reader that Father is very ruthless. The reason Father whipped her was because Adeline didn't tell him about the party or the silver dollar. This is depressing because whipping someone is wrong even in those days. She didn't deserve this punishment.

My whole essay shows that Chinese Cinderella is a depressing story because of the way she is physically and verbally abused by her family. There are 2 people who really meant a lot to Adeline and they inspired her and that is Aunt Baba and Ye Ye. Adeline is treated poorly and that is why the story is very