Rules of the Game by Amy Tan an Example of the Topic Literature Essays by

Rules of the Game by Amy Tan Amy Tan, author of the international best-seller novel, Joy Luck Club, continued to explore the relationships of Chinese women and their Chinese-American daughters through her various published books such as The Kitchen Gods Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses, The Bonesetters Daughter and her latest book titled, Rules of the Game. Need essay sample on "Rules of the Game by Amy Tan" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed College Students Frequently Tell EssayLab professionals: Who wants to write paper for me? Specialists suggest: Essaylab.Com Can Provide You With The Winning Academic Essay Essay Paper Writing Service Get Paid To Write Papers For Students Paper Writing Service Best Essay Writing Service Reviews The Rules of the Game book took off from Tans Joy Luck Club novel portrayed by one of the primary character, Waverly Jong. Nicknamed MeiMei by her family, Waverly narrated her childhood experiences and perspectives as she is time and again influenced by her Chinese and American upbringing, providing conflict to the story as she try to navigate both traditional Chinese culture and the divergent melding culture of Chinese Americans. When she was still young, Waverly was raised in a Chinese culture, surrounded by Chinese traditions and environment as her family live in San Franciscos Chinatown. Her mother, Mrs. Jong, prepared her in her journey towards adulthood through a valuable Chinese teaching called the art of invisible strength. This strategy can be used for winning arguments, gaining the respect of other people, and winning at a later date, which Waverly found out chess games. At age six, Waverly learned to play chess by initially learning the rules by her own and by continuously playing with an old man named Lau Po who taught her complex chess strategies with Chinese names like The Double Attack from the East and West Shores, Throwing Stones on a Drowning Man, The Sudden Meeting of the Clan, A Double Killing Without Blood, and many others. The girl continued to study and join chess tournaments such that at age nine, she is already considered a national chess champion. Waverly is just 429 points away from attaining the grand master status. As the story revolved around Waverlys chess games, the teachings of her mother continued to guide her in her path. Through the art of invisible strength, Waverly slowly found and developed her own inner strength and self-control. She was also taught that invisible strength may also represent female power and the power of foreigners as opposed to the local Americans where foreigners like the Chinese would have to learn the culture and live with it. The power of women as an invisible strength is depicted in this story through the girls journey towards unconventional paths of using her ability to persuade, to shape, control events and to win against male-dominated arenas such as chess games. This symbolism is shown through a magazine message by Bobby Fischer, a chess grandmaster, that there will never be a woman grandmaster. The power of foreigners were also shown here as the power to succeed in a land that is strangely different from what the girl and her family knew of. The conflict between two different cultures Chinese and American and the merging of the two for second-generation settlers (like Waverly) are narrated as little tidbits that add up as the girl grew up. Example of this is the picture-taking scene in front of Hong Sings restaurant where it is known that the live fish and turtles are doomed for cooking. Waverly and some of her friends were taken pictures by a Caucasian man as if they are strange people living in an exotic land. In Waverlys first chess tournament, she played against a fifteen-year old boy who wrinkled his nose at her to show that he was not impressed. Another is the definition of torture of Mrs. Jong as opposed to its American meaning. She doesnt really know what a Chinese torture is, but she knows that Chinese work hard, do business, medicine and paintings. She believes that Chinese people are not lazy as compared with Americans such that Chinese torture is the best torture indeed. The main conflict in the story revolved around Waverlys chess winnings and her mothers pride in her. She is slowly feeling embarrassed and a little angry with her mother for always telling people that she is her daughter who always won chess games. It came to a point when Waverly intentionally informed her mother not to use her so that she can show off to other people. This made her mother very angry with her that she was later ignored in the dinner table. Waverly did not understand her mothers pride of her achievements which also extends to her family. Her mothers influence and teachings to her is slowly readying the girl into a path that is full of rules and would need great strength from within. The girl is embarrassed by her mothers pride, which made her hurt her mother. On the other hand, her mother might have other motives for teaching Waverly nuggets of wisdom based on Chinese culture. Definitely, she would not want to lose her little girl to the American way of thinking; influences that are not fully encouraged in a Chinese traditional culture. The narration of the story was from the girls childhood perspective and did not refer to anything that would have happened when she is already an adult. It portrayed the various stages that the girl went through as she narrated that in the beginning, she was more influenced by her Chinese heritage. Later on, as she begun to play chess, she begun to change such that the merging of Chinese-American culture is slowly developing and gaining strength inside her; appreciating what both can do for her to be successful in life. The conflict in identity is one of the main themes of the story. The teaching of the art of invisible strength and the various scenes narrated along the way all gave insights into the complexities of being a hyphenated American and yet, connected by blood and bonds to another culture and country. Another major theme is the conflict between mothers and daughters, creating a powerful and moving story about irony, pain and sorrow, and the imperfect and many ways in which mothers and daughters love each other. Each of the primary characters tried to show their love for each other in their own ways and yet, surrounded by two cultures that sometimes bind and sometimes break, they each have to learn the ways on how to join each others aspirations and dreams and show true love against all odds. The title, Rules of the Game is aptly given when the themes and central ideas are assessed. The story forces Waverly to discover what game she is playing, how to play it masterfully, what are the rules that she must follow in order to succeed and achieve in her goals. This chess game is a metaphor for her struggle with her Chinese mother. Waverly is the primary actor winning chess games but her mother is also playing her greatest game, which is to win against Americans and to prove the superiority of Chinese people against them. In the final scene, Waverly was left alone to learn and discover what she should do next as she plotted her moves against her mother. The invisible strength that her mother taught her is already at play as she silently contemplated her next moves. Another concept that can be seen in the story is the concept of feminism. Just like the story of Mulan, the Rules of the Game showed that adolescents learn to deal with crises by experience and as a result, they grow and mature. Girls like Waverly and Mulan also learned their place as women in addition to dealing with male resentment that arises when they succeed in their chosen paths. Both characters have inner strengths that were slowly developed and nurtured by their surroundings and experiences. These strengths were harnessed and learned so as to be utilized fully when needed. Both girls were taught the art of invisible strength such that even when they are forced to conform to the societys expectations of them, there is self-control and inner strength that guides them to be non-conformists, enabling them to find their own paths towards self-attainment. Mulan fought like a man for her country and Waverly played chess and won numerous games in a male-dominated arena. Both acted outside of the box and both succeeded and learned. Waverly used her own strength, her mothers teachings, and her own ability to think quickly to defeat her opponents time and again. She has to learn to win against her chess opponents and against her mother who is slowly pressuring her to win more, lose less. The story somehow represented the confusion and bewilderment that first generation Americans felt; how they are finally forced to turn away from their parents customs and traditions, heritage and culture, and try to find their own paths and succeed amidst numerous challenges and battles. Amy Tan once again provided readers with a story that reaches across cultures and generation. Just like her Joy Luck Club novel, the Rules of the Game is clearly written and the lucidity of vision were presented in such a way that you appreciate each characters portrayal, understanding their motives and somehow emphatizing with them. The story inspires us to also have that art of invisible strength as each one of us plot our lives and strive to attain our visions and goals in life. References: Amy Tan: Best Selling Author of the Joy Luck Club A New York Times Bestseller. English 111: Amy Tan, Rules of the Game. Hooks, Amy. How to be a Girl: Problems with Feminism in Rules of the Game and Mulan. (2002). Summaries and Commentaries: Waverly Jong Rules of the Game.

Hector of Troy essays

Hector of Troy essays Hector one of the best-known warriors in history. Hector the true leader of the Trojan army and protector of the city of Troy. Hector was the eldest son of Priam and Hecuba.1 In addition; Hector was the best warrior in all of Troy. Hector was the brother of Paris, Helenus and Cassandra.2 The young prince of Troy, sought after a wife. He found Andromache, he married her, and she was the daughter of the king of Thebes. After the you prince and princess have gotten married they had a son. Hector was the father of Astyanax (Scamandrius).3 He was a well-respected Trojan commander and a tremendous hero for Troy, but he was not only a favorite of mere mortals, his liking extended to even the gods. Apollo and Zeus favored Hector above all the other Trojans. In the last year of war, with withdrawal of Achilles from battle because of his quarrel with Agamemnon, Hector's prowess in battle rose to great height, inspired by the gods, Zeus and Apollo.4 At the height of Hectors power, he would challenge the Greek soldiers, which none of them even stood a chance against him. He challenged the Greeks to fight him in single combat.5 Even though the regular soldiers did not stand a chance against his military prowess, other heroes of the Trojan War also tried to defeat him. Some of the famous heroes were Diomedes and Odysseus, however they never have fought against Hector in combat. Many heroes volunteered, including Diomedes and Odysseus, but drawing lots, Ajax won the right to fight Hector. Ajax, also known as Telamonian Ajax or the Greater Ajax. Ajax fought against Hector in single combat to a draw, which they afterward exchange gifts: Hector giving Ajax his sword in return for Hector receiving Ajax's belt.6 Even though Hector was a great warrior and commander. When Hector was matched by Ajax and Diomedes they have over came him with their strength and number, though they never defeated him. He was the best warrior on the Trojan sid es; Ajax and...

The Darwinian Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Darwinian Economy - Essay Example During a House Financial Services Committee hearing, it was put across that the simplest way to frame regulation was capital. Capital informs the amount of risk that financial institutions can take overall. It assures that the institutions have cushions that can absorb extreme shocks. Capital requirements are designed so as, given the uncertainty about the future and ignorance that there is concerning some elements of risk, it will ensure a greater cushion for absorption of loss and save bankers from consequences of judgment mistakes, as well as global uncertainty. The debate on whether to regulate or not to regulate has a great deal at stake. The global financial systems and their stability are dependent on adequate and effective capital requirements for these institutions with the 2008 crisis revealing vital problems with requirements as they currently stand (Ferguson, 2012: p1). However, economic recovery prospects, in Britain, the EU, and the US are heavily dependent on a steady credit flow, as well as lending. In addition, the available evidence is suggestive of the fact that over the top increment of capital requirements, in deed, will cause a credit crunch. Therefore, while financial institutions do require some level of regulation, they should not be over-regulated. Regulatory Failure Regulatory requirements of capital are not equally effective in their totality, especially because of two essential pitfalls that they are susceptible to; discretionary recognition of loss by regulators and bankers and discretionary bailouts by their governments (Barth et al, 2010: p34). Discretionary loss recognition refers to the use of practices of accounting that act to alter the meaning of capital. Instead of utilizing market based concepts, such as bank stock prices, so as to measure risk, as well as establish capital needs, regulators are reliant on concepts of accounting. They check on the bank’s books, rather than on the market assessments of the firmâ€⠄¢s held value. Regulatory capital, therefore, is referred to as accounting residual, i.e. the difference between asset accounting value and debt accounting value (Barth et al, 2010: p34). Accountants, book value, of course, are subject strict requirements of law. However, these requirements provide the regulators and bankers with discretion, especially concerning timing, which allows them to delay the acknowledgement of problems, as well as acting on these problems (Barth et al, 2010: p36). In addition, neither regulators nor bankers tend to recognize losses fully during poor economic conditions. The bankers will usually prefer to use delay tactics, such as ever greening, i.e. re-lending of money to the delinquent borrowers in order for these borrowers to pay back ballooning costs of debt service using even more debt to mask their problems. Bank regulators, on their part, always crave system stability, especially forbearance, to avoid worsening or precipitating a crisis. Therefore, they find ways to utilize their allotted discretion so as to downplay the size of losses in order for the banks not to require lost capital replacement (Barth et al, 2010: p34). When the above-mentioned practices are done on a large scale, they can have disastrous results. In the preceding events of the 2008 financial crisis, for instance, their combination caused a failure in the replacement of bank capital in time, which led to an intensification of the eventual

Annotated bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 12

Annotated bibliography - Essay Example The former one is completely opposed to this notion and instead claims that all that a person does is a result of choice. The question therefore is normally asked as to whom between the two is right. Whereas history does indeed play a role in one’s behavior, does it mean that the person committing a crime or violence is not responsible? This essay’s purpose is to assert that humans have freewill and that for every action taken, no one is really compelled. Decision and influence are two distinct things, which ought to be treated as such to avoid the confusion of determinism. Whereas, it could be true that one’s decision or its magnitude may be somehow influenced by the past, the actions taken by a person is not devoid of their consciousness and approval. That is to say, history may have a role in a decision but the person taking it is very much aware of it and by no means are they doing it without knowledge. According to (Cohen p.15), whenever one is taking a particular action there is full understanding and knowledge of its likely outcome and this therefore negates any claim of determinism. If every decision is taken based on the history then creativity and invention have nothing to be attributed to since they did not exist before. The proponents of determinism claim that a decision is greatly, if not fully, influenced by one’s history. For instance, if a man witnessed violence while growing up, there would no way to stop them from engaging in the same. However, Howard, George, and Diane (p.67), who reported that other factors that could alter a person when they are growing up, have disputed the above assertions. It therefore means that even if one witnessed violence, it does not automatically mean they will follow suit. The creativity demonstrated by individuals is not in any way influenced by experiences one had while growing up. Instead, the mind tends to focus on making new things. Similarly, one who involves in

Race and Crash Essay Example for Free

Race and Crash Essay The writer of Crash shows racism, prejudice, discrimination, and attitudes of different ethnic groups in the movie. Crash shows societies racial-discrimination through schemas on how stereotypes and the primary effect influence the characters, and their processes of social perception. Paul Haggis showed the hatred and racial-discrimination portrayed by individuals based on their ethnicity. Every ethnic group has certain stereotypes known about them; these stereotypes influence others views about them. In Crash, individuals who are white, African American, Latino, Iranian, Asian, and Mexican crash together. Each character was linked to all the others through an event. The setting is in Los Angles where many races collide together in a series of nonviolent and violent encounters. Crash begins by showing the lives of the main characters and the psychological issues they go through each day, because of the prejudice based on the stereotypes that prevent each individual from seeing the other person for who he or she is, consequently showing the terrible expanding of the self-fulfilling insights. Many of the characters have been through some king of experience, which led to the way they are. Perception in my definition is a person’s ultimate view of the world. The movie Crash touches on the ideal of perception in America. It also deals with racist relations that some people don’t realize. Crash forces you to look at what we think we know about these issues and forces you to look at them from a point of view that may not have previously considered. The movie gives me the perspective that life isn’t about different races coming together and trying to live in one world but life is all about perception. When I was watching the movie Crash, I realize that some of the views that they portrayed, I hear them and sometimes see them every day. Everyday people judge others on how they look and how they speak. People don’t realize how much others judge people and how we build relationships. Some of the views that were in Crash happen in life around the world. For example at the end of the movie when the police officer was driving the African American and they got into an argument. He then tries to pull out a figurine of a saint to show a young police officer, the officer mistakes the gesture for Peter pulling out a gun and shoots him. Our perception is usually shaped by culture. If a person gets robbed by a Latino person, they most likely will be scared of that race. Or they will probably think that all Latinos are robbers. If you meet an African American male or female, and they talk in Ebonics or slang, some people might categorize him or her as a thug and a criminal.

The Salem Scare Essay -- Literary Analysis, Arthur Miller

On the day of the hangings at Gallows Hill, many watched as friends and family were executed for crimes they had not committed. Arthur Miller wrote about that which preceded this morbid event in The Crucible. The story, which catalogs the witchcraft trials of Salem, was not an unprovoked piece of literature. At the time Miller wrote the play, America was dreadfully close to war with Russia, and many believed that communists were infiltrating the government. Joseph McCarthy was a man who oftentimes would accuse people of being â€Å"Reds.† Arthur Miller was one of the victims of McCarthy's verbal attacks. Although Arthur was in no way a communist, denying the accusation made others think he was guilty. This Catch-22 scenario reminded Arthur of the Salem Witchcraft trials of the late 1600's. Although the two events were hundreds of years apart, the â€Å"Red Scare† and the Salem Witchcraft Trials were very much alike. Frenzy was the main component of each happening, and this frenzy resulted in the unjust prosecution of many individuals. The definition, theme, and how the theme relates to my daily life are crucial to understanding The Crucible. The definition of â€Å"crucible† is â€Å"a test†. Throughout the play, many of Salem's inhabitants are tested in various ways. Of all the characters within The Crucible, there are three who had to make major decisions that would not only affect themselves but also affect the accused. John Proctor, a man who had quite a good reputation in Salem, underwent a test of moral integrity. Throughout the story, he is plagued with the guilt of having had an affair with Abigail, and in order to save his wife, must confess this sin to the court. Before his wife, Elizabeth, is taken to jail, she tells John this... ... By reading about how people within the play responded to their tests, one can reflect upon how they respond to their own tests in day to day life. The theme of how fear and suspicion feed upon themselves and result in the destruction of public order and good sense can show one the serious repercussions that come with not considering all scenarios and letting fear take control. How the theme applies to my daily life provides one with a real world example of how fear can break down reason and create unnecessary turmoil. Fear is a recurring emotion within Salem, and one that many in the village did not keep under control. This fear became a monster that consumed the town and unjustly killed many. In modern society, controlling our fear can save innocent lives and reputations and prevent occurrences such as the Salem Witchcraft Trials from ever happening again.

Equal Distribution of Income Essay

The fair distribution of income may be the most value-laden of all economic goals; it is certainly the most controversial. When it comes to dividing the total national output, there can be many interpretations of what makes for a fair division of wealth, as there are people. The issue of income equalization is further complicated by regional differences, as identified in the article. The equalization program, which is funded through general tax revenue collected from all Canadians, transfers dollars to poorer provinces so they can offer programs and services reasonably comparable to those offered in the wealthier provinces, at similar levels of taxation. There is a controversial overhaul of transfer payments under study by federal government. The six â€Å"have-not† provinces are splitting $15. 4 billion in equalization payments in 2012-13: Quebec ($7. billion), Ontario ($3. 3 billion), Manitoba ($1. 7 billion), New Brunswick ($1. 5 billion), Nova Scotia ($1. 3 billion) and Prince Edward Island ($337 million). The other four provinces (B. C. , Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador) are considered to have greater revenue-generating capacity and don’t currently qualify for equalization. The Conservative government has been examining substantial changes to the $15. -billion federal equalization program that could dramatically affect transfers sent to provinces and their ability to pay for programs and services. The concern in this article is the proposal, if implemented, could have multibillion-dollar consequences on hydro-producing provinces such as Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia, and possibly Newfoundland and Labrador. Any reforms to how hydroelectricity is calculated in equalization would almost certainly prove to be one of the most contentious issues, especially in the hydro-producing provinces. The current equalization program calculates 50 per cent of a province’s natural resource revenues in determining its revenue-generating ability — or â€Å"fiscal capacity† — and whether it deserves an annual equalization payment. But, the economic value of hydroelectricity isn’t necessarily calculated the same as oil and gas, partly because of the difficulty in determining the value of hydro power due to a lack of a competitive market in Canada. However, any changes to how hydroelectricity is calculated in equalization could have a â€Å"huge impact† on how much — if any — a province receives from Ottawa in equalization. For example, some studies have suggested Quebec could lose billions of dollars in equalization payments if the true value of hydroelectricity were calculated in the program. If the true economic value of the hydroelectricity were calculated, it would amount to a larger fiscal capacity for equalization-receiving provinces such as Quebec and Manitoba and possibly mean billions of dollars less in federal payments sent to those provinces in the coming years. I feel that the issue of equalization payments with regard to hydroelectricity generating provinces is a controversial one. Although, my opinion on such is that these â€Å"have† provinces (Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador) which are producing the hydroelectricity should be compensated for such. Due to the fact that hydroelectricity isn’t calculated like another resource doesn’t mean these hydroelectricity providing provinces should suffer. Currently, the equalization program takes into account differences in revenue-generating capacity among the provinces, but not the varying costs of providing services in each of the jurisdictions. Considering the revenues from hydro generation account for less than 20 per cent of total natural resource revenues across the country. However, hydro makes up nearly 80 per cent of natural resource revenues of equalization-receiving provinces, making it particularly important for distribution of equalization. Regardless if one province would suffer dramatically, I feel it is important to focus energy on this matter as the other â€Å"have† provinces could also benefit.