Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter Themes

Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter Themes

The Desire for Family

Adeline's desire to have a close-knit family overrides everything else in her life, and this is a desire that is never really fulfilled and that she never gets over. From her earliest age, Adeline is anxious to form a bond with her siblings. She especially longs for a relationship with her brother, James, who is nearer in age to her than the other older siblings. James is close to her but never comes to her defense and tells her that she should never care about anyone else either, in order to protect herself against hurt. Adeline doesn't heed his advice and continues to long for this close relationship. She wants this so much that she is willing to overlook the torments handed out by her siblings, her stepmother and her father in order to develop a relationship in later life. This is clearly seen after the death of her father....
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