... for minor offenses with a wooden hairbrush and a leather strap for special occasions. Mary, however, was lucky to have outside influence from the nuns at school and was bright enough to see the flaws in this extreme type of parenting, "My uncle's impartial application of punishment did nothing to establish discipline, since we had no incentive to behave well..not knowing when we might ... , "they disappear so strangely"...a remark that he mimicked for years whenever he wished to humiliate me" (McCarthy 62). Though the behaviors of her guardians would seem to constitute low self-esteem in...

• Word Count: 3363
• Approx Pages: 13

... be labeled "poor" or "underprivileged". One must be culturally sensitive and consider the location and context of her childhood to fully appreciate her experience. Regardless of the context of the child, there are a number of general factors to consider when examining healthy development. Negi had a close knit family which provided love and support. ... her such responsibility when all Negi really wanted was to be a kid. This role limited Negi's free time to be able to go outside and explore herself and her surroundings. It may have fostered some hatred toward her mother and also her sib...

• Word Count: 4765
• Approx Pages: 19
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... storm would distract her. Furthermore, she began to drink heavily and had to hide herself by wearing large hats with veils, and dark glasses. The novel occasionally breaks form and lets the reader know how the war has affected Roberts' family primarily his mother. Mrs. Ross drove herself to insanity and drunkenness ... emotion. Nonetheless, it is possible to assume Roberts' last attempt to do something right was when he tried to save the horses at the end of the novel. He felt the horses would be killed if he did not try to save them from being sent to the front lines. Therefore, to con...

• Word Count: 2775
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... finally tells her daughter about the twin daughters that she abandoned in China, Jing-Mei is completely shocked. The theme of lack of communication is developed throughout the novel. Each of the four mothers and daughters has difficulty really talking to and understanding one another. In addition, Amy Tan had the ... lifestyle and a communication gap, Ying-Ying suddenly remembers her wish from long ago. She wanted to be found. As this fourth part of the first section of the novel comes to a close, several themes and ideas have been developed and repeated. Each story has pointed out the ...

• Word Count: 6459
• Approx Pages: 26
• Grade Level: High School

... , Miriam, and Clara all made Paul feel that he was imprisoned"." Towards the end of the novel, Paul ends the three relationships and moves on. He has proven himself to be a patriarchal, self-centered, and sadistic male chauvinist. What the three women have in common, however, is a type of control over Paul. And ultimately, this ascendancy leads to his destruction. Paul's mother, Mrs ... take herself out, yet unable to stay indoors. The heat suffocated her. And looking ahead, the prospect of her life made her feel as if she were buried alive ". Her emotion was influenced by her living env...

• Word Count: 2551
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... waver. Chest Bottom Money Before packing up the dowry, the parents would normally tuck in some money or jewelry at the bottom corners of one of the four chests, and the custom is called "Weigh down the Chest Bottom", in hope for the girl to stay ... , as soon as the sedan is lifted from the ground, the bride's family will splash a basin of water just outside the gate. The clear water symbolizes the virtue and purity of the bride. And by creating the scene in public, the bride's family wants to show the neighbors ... of compensation. The marital system in ancient China provides them with...

• Word Count: 9974
• Approx Pages: 40
• Grade Level: High School