Compare and Contrast the parent/child relationship Based on “Royal Beatings” and “Rules of the Game”
Compare and Contrast the parent/child relationship Based on “Royal Beatings” and “Rules of the Game”
The issue of the parent-child relationship has become one of the major topics discussed in society. This subject has triggered authors to direct their stories on human relationships and their impact on children. “Royal Beatings,” a story by Alice Munro, is about the complicated relationship between a daughter, Rose and her stepmother who instigates beating on her (Munro 117). The author describes injustices Rose faces, who lost her mother at a young age, and her stepmother Flo as her source of problems. Besides, the “Rules of the Game,” a story by Amy Tan, portrays a supportive relationship between a daughter and her mother, who teaches invincible strength (Tan 89). The author describes a character known as Waverly, and her mother, Lindo Jong, a rigid and strict Chinese immigrant. Thus, the comparison and contrast of the parent-child relationship aspects illustrate the nurturing maternal roles and how their different upbringings could cause hate or love.
Munro and Tan brought out the relationship between a parent and a child and how such relations can become sour. Flo is the only mother figure Rose has known since childhood as nearly everything that Rose knows comes from Flo’s mouth like the stories of her mother’s death (Munro 124). The comparison of Rose’s mother death to a person who has swallowed a whole egg by Flo illustrates unkindness. Contrary, the case in the “Rules of the Game”, Lindo Jong understands how immigrants face a lot of difficulties in America and try to instill ethical values on her daughter. “I was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength” (Tan 89). According to Waverly, her mother imparted her with the truth daily so it could assist her and her brothers in becoming successful. From these both novels, the relationship between parents and children can turn sour if parents become more strict and rigid.
The two stories explain the theme of hatred and love between the parent and the child. In “Royal Beatings”, the author illustrates how Flo hated Rose. “Flo speaks of smart-aleck behavior, rudeness and slopping and conceit” (Munro 130). While she praises Brian’s innocence, it is evident Flo disregards Rose by labelling her character with negative words. This is an evidence of a constrained mother-daughter relationship. Also, when Rose’s father hit her, she would frequently recognize how he looks at her, not with anger but with a lot of hatred, as he commands her not to speak (Munro 131). This story portrays how children and parents, most of the time, show hatred towards each other. On the other hand, “Rules of the Game” describes the love that a parent has on her child. “I can’t practice when you stand there like that” (Tan 98). This illustrates the love that Lindo has on Waverly is seen when she wants her daughter to succeed in the new country as she teaches her how to gain an advantage over the other children in America. After she found out that Waverly has talent in chess, she encourages her to pursue her dreams and takes many sacrifices using a Chinese proverb about the strongest wind (Tan 89). Contrary to the strained Rose and Flo relationship, this shows the love that Lindo has on her daughter.
According to both novels, a parent-child relationship can be positive or negative. To be the best parents, they should build good relationships with their children and love them. The two short stories show similarities and differences, such as the complexities of human relationships, hatred, and love between parents and children. Therefore, mothers play a vital role in the future physical and emotional development of the young ones. The parents’ behaviors towards children affect social behaviors as described by the different upbringing by the characters, Rose and Waverly. Both are nurtured by mothers, but Rose faces hostility while Waverly is encouraged and loved.
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