The Red CandleNarrated by: Lindo

Jong

Siir Tecirlioglu 11A

• Lindo is promised to marry Tyan-yu. • At the age of 16, they get married. • The marriage is represented by a candle

which means if it blows out, then the marriage should be canceled.

• Lindo does everything to escape this marriage with a man she does not love.

• She, at the end, fools everyone by using the ancient Chinese traditions that everyone except her believes in.

• After the marriage is canceled, she goes to America.

• An introduction to future events in Lindo’s life.• Explains the characters in detail.• Talks about her freedom, choice, and promises.• How her real mother treated her• How she was treated by her mother-in-law• Lindo talks about her own personality• Some of the Chinese traditions-importance of

disgrace, and promises and the process of marriage in China

Why did I choose this section?

• It summarizes all the major conflicts that will be explored in detailed later in the story

• Great detail on the different characters

• All the detail and the use of languageforeshadows the future events that Lindo will experience.

• Hints on almost every event except for the conclusion.

• She is treated as a servant in the marriage.– This is the main goal in the choice of brides in China.

• Love is not important• Compared to a horsehorses work hard.• Matchmaker is the one who says thisChinese

traditionbelief in matchmakers.• (for example, in another story “Like Water for

Chocolate”, this is the main aim of Mama Elena)

•The paragraphdescribes the unforgettable look•I dont like Huang Taitaitype of person which you can never please•Future intentionsforeshadowing. İs makes me ask: “what are these intentions?”•The look”is it significant in the future?”•“why did she smile?”•“gold tooth”rich familygives me hint about the Huangsthe word “gold” is connected to the word “gold” on page 49 (i was wondering why she was mentioning gold on that page)•“swallow me down in one piece”actually she will swallow down your rightsconnection to the previous paragraph: “...serves you well...”•PenetrateSucceed in forcing a way into or through (a thing)

•The paragraph talks about Tyan-yudetails on this character•Taitaia restaurant in Belgrade. I just realized it.•She was only 2 years old! She has no personal rights or whatesoever•Marrying a guy who is 1 year youngerEW!•Tyan-yufirst time her name is mentioned in the story• -yuseemed very interesting to melt means: “leftover”not a nice way to call your son.

•Grandmotherspiritual beliefsis this common in China? Chinese culture?•Tyan-yu is spoiledthere are proofs of this later in the storynot sleeping on the sofa but making the girl sleep on that uncomfortable place. •BetrothedThe person to whom one is engaged

•Comparing the city traditions and the country traditions•Girls have NO CHOICE in Chinadecision is made for thembut i am still not sure if this is only for girls or for children in general, becuase in the previous paragraph, in the last sentence, it says that everyone made the decisions for Tyan-yu.it could be the tradition of deciding own childrens’ fates.•İn countryold Chinese traditions are a lot more common than in towns. • slow modernisation.

•They are “cut off” from this improvement- in societyi asked my self: “WHY? What cuts off the communication?•Country is worse than city I asked myself: “will she go to the city?”•Stories are told (ı think they are mostly lies) to scare and keep the old traditionsdoes lindo believe in these?

•Is Taiyuanese the name of the place they are living in?•Choosing your own daughter-in lawisnt it selfish?• İt is done that way so that the old tradition continues• Did the same thing happen to Taitai?• Doing this sounds honorable (“sweeping the family burial grounds long after the old ladies

had hone to their graves.”• There is actually a special day for that and it will be mentioned on page 63festival of pure

brightness.

•The importance of promise in this situationmarriage to Huangs’ son•“PROMISE”the word is the key word in this chapter•Unfair. Harsh. Sad.being have to marry someone you do not love and being treated by your OWN family as if you belonged to someone elseinsecure.• Own family has given up on you for their traditions

•Does lindo like this situation?being treated like you have someone else’s traits and characteristics

•Though place to be for the momshe is faking it•She is trying to get used to the fact that her daughter will leave her for another mother.• Acceptance of mother—in—law as real mother

•The paragraph is talking about Lindoherself•Obedience is very importantthat is why she starts her description with that word•Another example of how the mother already considers Lindo as a part of the Huang family.•İmportance of disgrace in Chinaif Lindo is rejected by her mother-in-lawthen this will be a shame to Lindo’s own family.•She cries on purpose to look uglier (a reaction to what is waiting for her in the future) or is she crying becuase she is really sad about what her mom just said?•İnterior monologuethe first sentenceshe is thinking to herself.

•There is no way to change what has been promised.•SYMBOL!PROMISE IS A SYMBOLit is a marriage contracta must to do what you are told/you told.

Conflicts

• Even from here, we can see that there are 3 conflicts:– Internal Conflictwhat Lindo

wishes to do and what she has to do (promise)

–Man vs. SocietyLindo vs the Chinese traditions

–Man vs. Fateher fate being decided by others’ choices but she can do nothing about it

Other words that I dunno in the entire

chapter

genuine 49

Cicadas 50

Peking accent 50

To brag 50

To gut 52

firecrackers 52

To pluck 52

lump 53

dowry 53

stern 53

hastily 54

parlor 54

pretense 54

gobble 56

lunar 56

commission 57

wring 57

palanquin 57

yelp 58

drape 58

yank 59

gown 62

auspicious 63

somber 63

wail 63

scold 63

clutch 63

Writh 64

THNXX!ANY QUESTIONS?