But Waverly lacks Chinese character Waverly doesn’t really respect her mother, she rarely listens to Lindo, and Lindo even thinks Waverly is ashamed of her. Lindo's pleased that Waverly has had American opportunities, and doesn’t have to be satisfied with the life she was born into. However, Lindo doesn’t think she achieved this goal, it might not be something that any mother can give their children. How to know your own worth and polish it, never flashing it around like a cheap ring. How not to show your own thoughts, to put your feelings behind your face so you can take advantage of hidden opportunities. How to obey your parents and listen to your mother’s mind. She learned these things, but I couldn’t teach her about Chinese character. In America, nobody says you have to keep the circumstances somebody else gives you. You do not have to sit like a Buddha under a tree letting pigeons drop their dirty business on your head. You can sue anybody, make the landlord fix it. If the roof crashes on your head, no need to cry over this bad luck. If you are born poor here, it’s no lasting shame. I taught her how American circumstances work. Lindo’s greatest wish for her daughter was that Waverly would have American circumstances and Chinese character: Hey: that sounds like Lindo in a nutshell. The Sun clan (her maiden name is Sun) is known for its "smart people, very strong, tricky, and famous for winning wars." The horse is a strong, majestic hard worker. This quality of Lindo allows her to be tricky and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.Īll of Lindo’s characteristics are in line with her being born in the year of the horse and as member of the Sun clan. Part of Lindo’s personality is a certain selfishness, a demand for the best, and her clever mind understands how to balance that desire with, say, her parents’ promises, her own notion of respect for her elders, and her own inner voice.ĭespite being raised in a relatively repressive situation-being forced into an awful marriage and basically treated as her mother-in-law’s personal slave-Lindo has a strong sense of self.įor her entire life Lindo holds on to the metaphor of the wind’s invisible strength and uses it as a way to know her value, and keep her plans and intentions hidden while waiting for the right moment to strike. She also applied her cunning to ensure a second marriage, using a fortune cookie with a perfectly selected fortune to secure her man and get him to pop the question. She managed to free herself honorably (and deviously) from a horrible marriage, staying true to both herself and her parents’ wishes. Lindo's primary character trait might just be craftiness. So: how do you describe a woman who self-identifies as "like the wind"? In a word: tricky. I had genuine thoughts inside that no one could see, that no one could ever take away from me. I had on a beautiful red dress, but what I saw was even more valuable. I wiped my eyes and looked in the mirror. I couldn’t see the wind itself, but I could see it carried the water that filled the rivers and shaped the countryside. And then I realized it was the first time I could see the power of the wind. I asked myself, what is true about a person? Would I change in the same way the river changes color but still be the same person? And then I saw the curtains blowing wildly, and outside rain was falling harder, causing everyone to scurry and shout. If we asked you to characterize the wind, we bet you'd come up with adjectives like "flighty," "capricious," or "annoying." (Or, if you're from L.A., you might think of it as having the ability to drive people insane.)īut for Lindo, the wind is the embodiment of stealthy, invisible strength. Lindo Jong Paint With All The Colors of The Wind
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