The Twenty-Six Malignant Gates

At the beginning of the second section of the book "The Twenty-Six Malignant Gates" the daughter attempts to ride her bike, but her mother does not allow her to ride her bike because she claims that she cannot see her and she will fall off. The daughter asks the mother how does she know that and the mother responds by saying, "Its is in a book, The Twenty-Six Malignant Gates, all the bad things that can happen to you outside the protection of this house" (Tan 87). The daughter ignores the mother and decides to ride her bike anyway and she ended up falling off before reaching the corner. The purpose of this is to show how mothers are always there for you and usually tend to know the right things to say. This also demonstrates how consequences do come from ignoring or disobeying the word of your mother.

In the story "Rules of the Game" the daughter learns the game of chess and becomes extremely fascinated with it. She eventually became extremely good at chess and later on she won a chess championship. Although she enjoyed the game, she could stand her mother staring and breathing on her every time she would play or plan out her chess games. She became extremely irritated,

"But I found it difficult to concentrate at home. My mother had a habit of standing over me while I plotted out my games. I think she thought of herself as my protective ally. Her lips would be sealed tight, and after each move I made, a soft 'Hmmmmph' would escape from her nose" (Tan 98).

This quote demonstrates how the mother has become very overprotective and watchful of her daughter. Although she may be pushing and stressing out her daughter out a lot, she is doing it because she cares and loves her too much. This is her way of telling her daughter, look I am always going to be there whether you like it or not. The daughter should appreciate and embrace the fact that her mother cares so much about her.