Dynamics of Relationship between Parent and Child

RUNNING HEAD: COMPARISON AND CONTRAST ESSAYS
Literature Essay
Name of Student
Name of University

1COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY
The dynamics of relationship between parent and child had been for long a recurrent theme in the
world of literature. Though the main focus or story line in some cases is completely different and
the parent and child relationship are not fully developed in the course, the insights that an author
leaves intentionally helps the reader to imagine the idea of parenthood throughout the past
centuries. In the stories, The Rules of Games written by Amy Tan and the story Paul’s case
written by Willa Cather, the parent and child relationship plays a very significant role not only in
the development of the stories but contributes largely to the setting and climax of the story.
In The Rules of the Games, Amy Tan presents the complex mother and daughter
relationship that portrays the negativity of too much interference of a mother in the child’s life
create. On the other hand, the father-son relationship in Paul’s case account for the absence of
compassion between the two entities though, the father has a concern about his son (Chung-Hao
74).
Waverly Jong and Lindo Jong are the Chinese immigrants in America. Lindo Jong is a
strong character who taught her daughter about the invisible strength. This invisible strength
helped Waverly in going through various odds (Tan). For Lindo however, the invisible strength
refers to the female power. She was a strong woman who sacrificed a lot for the success of her
daughter’s dream. Paul’s father, on the other hand, was also concerned about his son’s abnormal
attitude towards the society. He struggles hard to put back Paul’s life in track (Carther).
However, nowhere in the story, it was found that he tries to solve the issue by imparting
guidance directly to his son or sit back for some moment in order to understand his perspective
(Carther). The similarity between the two stories lies in the sense that both the parent in the two
stories tried hard to pave their ward’s life and lifestyle just as they wanted. Lindo Jong wanted