Heroism_in_Chinese_Cinderella

Throughout the novel Chinese Cinderella, Adeline is seen as a true hero. Heroism is reflected in the way she deals with rejection and injustice, and her suffering even in the face of a life-threatening condition. Her favourable personality and undying devotion, her sense of independence, perseverance, and inspiration derived from education and those around her all contribute to her portrayal as a hero. Adeline is forced to live life enduring rejection and neglect, and this alone is demonstrated by the way her father and stepmother Niang leave her alone at boarding school in Tianjin when she is only 10 years old, in a cruel attempt to separate Adeline from her Aunt Baba, while the communists fast approach the area. While every other student is taken under their mother’s wing, Adeline is left solitary, in the face of danger at every hour. (“One by one they vanished… by the middle of December, I was the only student left”). Through a desperate, pleading letter addressed to her Aunt, she conveys her sense of isolation and sadness- “Why don’t you write, why doesn’t anyone send me a letter' …Don’t forget me.” Though the injustices in Adeline’s family life has a strong impact, she never plots against them or conspires to retaliate against those who have hurt her, demonstrating her strong sense of dignity. She is forced to suffer the hardship of rejection still, evening the face of a situation where her life is at risk. Again alone at boarding school, she develops pneumonia, and although she receives an isolated visit from her father, she is still forced to endure that sense of rejection. Moreover, Adeline’s personality, undying devotion and tender nature pose as heroic characteristics, for example, fearing for the life of her baby stepsister when she is slapped viciously by her mother, she pleads: “Don’t beat her any more. She is only a baby!”, thus rending her relationship with her stepmother further, and paying the consequences: “I shall never forgive you… for your arrogance! Never!” In numerous circumstances of the novel, her loving, protective personality is illustrated through her defence and protection of her Aunt Baba and Ye Ye, and her tender love for her pet duckling PLT (Precious Little Treasure. Adeline’s successes in class, her strong, reliable personality brings numerous peers to her side, at one point throwing a surprise party after following her home from school one day, only to find her beaten and bleeding from the punishment of her stepmother. “I felt naked and ghastly and vulnerable… unwanted and unloved by my own parents… for a person to dies of shame'” Her personality greatly aids her in overcoming her adversities, even when she finds it difficult and shameful to reveal the insight of her family life, as it had won the unflawed support from Wu Chun Mei and all her peers. A strong sense of independence and perseverance is also seen in her personality. For instance, with her Niang refusing to provide Adeline, her older sister and three brothers with tram fares to reach school every day unless they apologised to her and their father, she walks the miles alone to and fro through sunshine and hail, despite her Aunt’s pleas to give in and apologise and the fact that one by one, her siblings collapse on their vow and only she continues to walk. “I just couldn’t do it… something to do with loyalty, fair play, and a sense of obligation.” While the suffering and injustices continue to deepen, Adeline continues to use her independence to guide her own life. In addition, perseverance is illuminated in her dedication to education and inspiration from others, especially her grandfather. (“And if I should be so lucky as to succeed one day, it’ll be because you believed in me”). Yearning to gain the love from her father she lacks, Adeline strives successfully at school to bring honour to the Yen family. “How wonderful! My triumph had become Father’s triumph! I must study harder and keep wearing this medal” Her success in international the play-writing competition marks the end of that ordeal, using her passion for literature to aid her triumphs. The use of passion for literature to overcome adversities is demonstrated by her fascination for the book ‘A Little Princess’. “I copied the book word for word… committed parts of it to my memory and slept with it under my pillow.” Adeline’s level of appreciation and inspiration rules far above others, and it is the way she shapes her life from these inspirations which makes her a hero. Adeline’s qualities depict her as a Cinderella, a fighter, and most of all, a hero. She triumphs over her adversities with the courage she seeks from deep within her soul, and poses as an inspiration to all in the face of hopelessness.