A Summary and Analysis of Amy Tan’s ‘Rules of the Game’
By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)
‘Rules of the Game’ is one of the most popular stories which form part of Amy Tan’s 1989 book The Joy Luck Club . The story is about an eight-year-old Chinese American girl who teaches herself chess and becomes a child prodigy, winning many national tournaments. But ‘Rules of the Game’ is also, like many stories in The Joy Luck Club , about a daughter’s fraught relationship with her mother.
‘Rules of the Game’ was the germ of what became The Joy Luck Club . It began life as ‘Endgame’, a short story Tan wrote in response to an article she read in Life magazine about young Chinese Americans playing chess. Tan attended a workshop for new writers, and Molly Giles helped her to rework the story into what became ‘Rules of the Game’, the story that would become a whole series of related stories, The Joy Luck Club .
Before we offer an analysis of the story, here’s a brief summary of its plot.
‘Rules of the Game’: plot summary
The story is narrated by Waverly Place Jong, a Chinese American woman who recounts her childhood as a young Chinese daughter of immigrants growing up in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. Jong is named after the street where she lived in a flat above a Chinese bakery, but she is known as Meimei, meaning ‘Little Sister’.
One Christmas, the children are given some presents, and Meimei’s brother Vincent is given a chess set with a couple of pieces missing. He and their brother Winston start learning the game. Initially, Vincent refuses to let his sister join them, but when she gives him some of her sweets (which were her Christmas present) to use as the missing chess pieces, he allows her, and the sweets (called Life Savers) are allowed to be kept and eaten by the player who wins or captures them.
When he explains the rules of a chess game to her, she asks questions about it. She goes away and researches how the game works. She learns that one must always have a sense of the endgame when one begins playing a game, and that chess is a ‘game of secrets’ in which one must ‘show’ rather than ‘tell’.
Her brothers quickly lose interest in the game, but Meimei remains fascinated by it. She plays an old Chinese man in the neighbourhood, and loses many times. This man, Lau Po, teaches Meimei some of the secrets of the game, and she improves. She enters chess tournaments and wins many games, bringing home many trophies. By the time she turns nine years old, she’s a national chess champion and a child prodigy.
However, Meimei dislikes the way her mother parades her around in town and shows off her famous daughter. Meimei confronts her about this, telling her mother that if she wants to show off, she should learn to play chess herself. When her mother grows angry at this, Meimei runs away through the streets. When she returns home, her mother blanks her and turns the whole family against her. The story ends with Meimei viewing her mother as her adversary, as though they are playing a vast game of chess against each other, and Meimei dreams of floating out of the window and escaping.
‘Rules of the Game’: analysis
Tan’s title, ‘Rules of the Game’, is cleverly double-edged, ostensibly referring to the ‘game’ of chess and its rules (which are explained by Vincent when Meimei first begins playing it), but also suggesting the ‘game of life’. By the end of the story, with Meimei plotting her next ‘move’ against her mother, the extended metaphor which runs through the story – chess as a metaphor for life itself – reaches a crescendo.
Yet it is clear that Meimei possesses a certain naivety regarding the game of life: she may have a much clearer understanding of chess than her mother, but her mother has considerably more experience of the other ‘game’. Look at how Meimei, at the end of the story, casts her mother as the player with the black chess pieces: she is white (goodness, purity) while her mother is black (evil).
But although Meimei doesn’t realise it, her mother has taught her, yet again, the importance of ‘invisible strength’ – a lesson which, the opening lines of the story tell us, she had first learned from her mother when she was six years old.
Yet this lesson is not one that is taught once and then done with. When Meimei becomes a national sensation, her mother wishes to parade her celebrated daughter around and show her off. That’s the very opposite of ‘invisible’ strength. There’s a sense that she wants her children not to have to be invisible in the first place, but to be visible, successful, and integrated into American society through their successful pursuit of ‘the American dream’.
But through doing insisting on showing off her daughter, she inadvertently ends up imparting another valuable lesson to Meimei. And of course, the ‘game of life’ played by both Meimei and her mother is a race game, of sorts: as Chinese Americans, they can blend in and be ignored or overlooked by others (much as the white American whom Meimei faces, and beats, in her first tournament underestimates his younger, female, Chinese opponent), and with this ‘invisibility’ comes a certain power.
Tan weaves examples of this power of invisibility through ‘Rules of the Game’. Meimei recounts the time when a white tourist persuaded her and other Chinese children to pose outside a Chinese restaurant with a roast duck in shot in the window behind them. Resenting this act of cultural stereotyping, Meimei spins the tourist a horror story about the kind of ghastly food the restaurant serves up (which includes octopus gizzards) in order to shock and appal him. The tourist, who clearly wasn’t expecting such a response from a little Chinese girl, is suitably horrified.
And although ‘Rules of the Game’ is about the conflict between two different generations of Chinese women from the same family – much as another of the stories from The Joy Luck Club , ‘ Two Kinds ’, is – it is also about the clash between Chinese and American, and the hybrid identity which Homi K. Bhabha and other theorists have drawn attention to among immigrant peoples.
Meimei’s mother tells her daughter that the ‘American rules’ which govern the children’s chess set require her daughter to find out how to master those rules herself: going to a new country requires learning a whole new set of rules, laws, and codes.
It is significant that when Meimei goes to visit the ‘Santa man’ who gives the children their Christmas presents, she is aware of her two different ages: she is seven years old according to the ‘American formula’ but eight years old in the Chinese calendar. Even the ‘rules’ governing her age are different.
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“Rules of the Game” by Amy Tan Essay
Introduction, explication of “rules of the game”, works cited.
The book “Rules of the game” is by Amy Tan an Asian-American writer. The book was enthused after the author’s trip to China when she met her half-sisters. The story is narration by young girl, Waverly who later turned out to be a prominent chess player. Waverly lived at Waverly Street (the origin of her name) with her brothers and mother. Mrs. Jong, Waverly’s mother, teaches her the “art of invincible strength”. It is one of the tools given to Waverly by her mother in order to live a better life in future as compared to their poor state of living they had. She does not want her children to notice their poor for that reason she does her best to provide them with a three to five meals a day just like the other children get.
The opening page of the story basically explains the rules of the “game” and the strength of a woman, as we see Waverly (a female), rising above many boys and men beating them in chess and winning various tournaments. She does that by learning and following the rules of the “game”. The opening page generally shows the life of the young girl who at the end of the book the reader expects a success story of the narrator.
At the beginning of the book “Rules of the game” Waverly who’s the narrator has a rather good relationship with her mother. Her mother Mrs. Jong is quite supportive of her daughter’s chess playing. She teaches her the “art of invisible strength”, which is tool that Waverly could use in her later life. Primarily the book speaks about the rules of a chess game which the narrator, Waverly masters with amazing skill. During her training her mother provides her with ample space by giving her the room she shared with her brothers to herself. The open page shows the struggle of a young girl to fame. A reader expects a success story at the end given that no hard work goes unrewarded. She learns everything she requires to win any chess game and at the age of eight she gains success and fame in the game. At a tender age she manages to major to achieve a lot in her life.
Self-control which her mother refers to as the “art of invincible strength” is taught to Waverly by her mother. Waverly compares it to the wind which is invincible yet extremely influential. Despite its invisibility it could flatten an entire community; hence making it the most powerful. On the other hand the “art of invisible strength” could refer to the strength of a woman. Women are believed to be the weaker and for that reason some are denied conventional paths to leadership. In such cases women could use their persuasive abilities to control and mold events. Through their men women can influence decisions made in boardroom meetings. In that case women are invincible yet very influential; thus the line “The woman behind the man”
Generally, the opening page of Tan’s book “The rules of the game” talks about her daughter’s success in chess, but on the other hand it describes life and its rules. By following the rules in life one can achieve whatever goals he/she has in life just like Waverly achieves her dream of becoming a master of chess. Despite life rules being ever-changing one could still learn the basic rules and apply them to beat one’s challenges in life. One can also learn from other people’s experiences just Waverly learns from her opponents like Old Lau Po from the park.
Tan, Amy. Rules of the Game . New York: Gale, 2010. Web.
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IvyPanda . 2023. ""Rules of the Game” by Amy Tan." November 2, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/rules-of-the-game-by-amy-tan/.
1. IvyPanda . ""Rules of the Game” by Amy Tan." November 2, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/rules-of-the-game-by-amy-tan/.
Bibliography
IvyPanda . ""Rules of the Game” by Amy Tan." November 2, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/rules-of-the-game-by-amy-tan/.
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Summaries, Analysis & Lists
“Rules of the Game” Summary, Analysis & Theme by Amy Tan: Sparknotes Substitute
“Rules of the Game” is one of the short stories from The Joy Luck Club , published in 1989. It’s a popular short story for students . In addition to reading this “Rules of the Game” summary, I highly recommend reading this excellent short story in full. It’s engaging and not very long. Can’t find any Sparknotes? No problem. This “Rules of the Game” summary includes an analysis and look at themes.
“Rules of the Game” Summary
The narrator, Waverly, learned the art of invisible strength at the age of six from her mother. It was a strategy for winning, which involved refraining from speaking.
Waverly grew up in San Francisco’s Chinatown in a two-bedroom flat over a Chinese Bakery. The alley led to a small playground, but Waverly and her older brothers preferred the alley for playing. Down the street was a fish market and a café.
The narrator was named after the street she lived on, Waverly Place. Her family called her Meimei, which means “Little Sister”. She is the youngest child, and only daughter. Waverly’s mother believed in Chinese people’s ability to excel in anything.
When she was seven, Waverly’s family attended a church-sponsored Christmas party. All the children received a present. The gifts weren’t all equally desirable, and some of the children were disappointed with what they got. Waverly got a twelve pack of Life Savers, which she was happy with. Her brother Vincent got a used chess set with two missing pieces. The mother was gracious in public, but told the kids to throw it away. They used it anyway.
Waverly watches her brothers, Vincent and Winston, play over Christmas week. She’s intrigued by the power of the pieces. After a while, they let her play. Vincent explains the rules. Waverly looks deeply into the game, reading the rules and learning unfamiliar words, reading chess books, and pondering the pieces. She learns opening theory, middle game tactics, endgame strategy, gathering invisible strengths, and the value of withholding knowledge. Her brothers eventually stop playing with her.
One spring afternoon after school, Waverly sees a group of old men playing chess in the playground. She starts playing regularly with a man, Lau Po, who’s an accomplished player. She learns many secrets of the game and some chess etiquette. Her level of play rises considerably.
Waverly starts playing weekend exhibition matches, defeating all her opponents. Next, she plays in local chess tournaments. She wins them all. The Chinese bakery starts displaying her trophies. Local businesses start sponsoring her. Waverly’s mother gives her chores to her brothers.
By age nine, she’s a national champion, closing in on grand-master status. Her photo appears in Life magazine. She develops a distinctive style of posing, sitting, and moving the pieces.
Waverly stops playing in the alley and playground. She goes to school and studies chess. Her mother stands over her as she practices and makes small noises. Her parents cater to her at home. She gets her own room and she can leave the table without finishing all her food.
When there’s no tournament, she has to accompany her mother to the market on Saturdays. They go to many shops. Waverly’s mother tells whoever is nearby that Waverly is her daughter. Waverly finds it obvious and embarrassing. She tells her mother she’s using her to show off, and that if she wants to show off she should learn to play chess herself. Waverly pulls away from her mother and runs off down alleys and through streets until she’s worn out. She sits on a plastic pail for two hours before heading home.
The door is locked, but Vincent hears her and lets her in. He says she’s in trouble. The family is eating. They ignore Waverly. She goes to her room and lies on her bed. She imagines a chess board. Her mother is the opponent. Her mother’s black pieces advance. Her white pieces scream and fall off the board.
Waverly feels herself getting light. She floats into the air and flies out the window. She flies over the alley, the roofs, and up into the sky until everything disappears. Waverly closes her eyes and thinks about her next move.
(End of “Rules of the Game” summary)
“Rules of the Game” Analysis
Here’s an analysis of the central themes and ideas of “Rules of the Game”.
“Rules of the Game” Theme Analysis: Culture Clash
Waverly is an American born girl with a Chinese born mother. As such, she feels the force of both cultural influences.
The earliest lesson she relates to us, “the art of invisible strength”, is based on a Chinese proverb about a strong wind being unseen. Her mother instructs her to hold her tongue. This is different from the American way of asserting yourself that Waverly would be exposed to elsewhere.
Every day starts with the smell of “fragrant red beans”, “fried sesame balls”, and “sweet curried chicken crescents” from the Chinese bakery.
Her family lives in Chinatown, so they’re surrounded by Chinese shops, including one that deals in Chinese herbal cures—an alternative to Western medical treatment. We also see a contrast to it later when Waverly finds the chessmen to be “more powerful than old Li’s magic herbs.” The fish market is full of live produce that is prepped right in front of the customer, which is a contrast to the more behind-the-scenes workings of an American shop.
Waverly’s experience in front of the Chinese restaurant with a Caucasian tourist—she and her playmates posed in front of a restaurant with a roasted duck and had their picture taken—highlights her Chinese background.
She’s named after the street the family lives on—Waverly, her American name, highlights her individuality. At home, she’s called Meimei, which means “Little Sister”, highlighting her role in the traditional family.
Waverly’s dual culture is evident when Santa Claus asks her age. She’s seven on the American calendar and eight by the Chinese calendar. She reconciles the duality by giving her date of birth. This exchange also includes a question about whether she believes in Jesus. She “knows the only answer to that”, which is the American answer.
A bridge between the two cultures is seen in Lau Po, the man who takes Waverly’s chess play to the next level. He instructs her in a game popular in America, but uses Chinese names for the strategies.
We see Waverly symbolically being pulled from her Chinese background as she makes progress playing a popular American game in tournaments, “each one farther away from home.”
Another blending of the two influences is seen in Waverly’s mannerisms during game play. She poses in the way her mother taught her, but moves her pieces with flair and a triumphant smile at her opponent.
“Rules of the Game” Theme Analysis: Mother and Daughter Dynamics
Waverly has a “sly thought” and says she’s being wicked when she intentionally brings up something she knows could bother her mother—Chinese torture.
Waverly manipulates her mother into letting her enter the chess competitions by saying she doesn’t want to compete with American rules. As her mother is all about learning the rules so you can succeed, she wants Waverly to compete.
When her mother critiques her play, Waverly is annoyed but can’t say anything. This is a big contrast to her outburst while shopping. Her annoyance has built up enough to overcome her “invisible strength”, and make her feelings known. This point also fits into the culture clash section.
After this outburst, Waverly is ignored by her family. They’re using “invisible strength” on her, and she feels outmatched. She’s not yet ready to assert her independence. This is represented by the fish on the dinner table that was “swimming upstream in vain escape.” Waverly’s outburst and subsequent flight were also in vain. She has to return to her mother.
“Rules of the Game” Analysis Questions
1. what is the significance of the title.
The literal meaning is obvious. Waverly has to learn the rules of the game of chess. She also learns the figurative “rules”—strategies and etiquette that allow her to succeed.
The other meaning is also made very clear. Waverly’s mother talks about learning the American rules to succeed as an immigrant. Waverly also learns the “rules” of balancing her cultures and dealing with her mother. These are the “rules” of life.
2. Waverly’s mother uses both of her names in the story. What is the significance of the change?
Her mother calls her Meimei, her Chinese name, most of the time. The exception is on their Saturday market outings. She tells everyone in earshot that this is her daughter “Wave-ly”. In public, she uses her American name, the name the community knows her by, and the name that’s associated with accomplishment. Her mother wants some credit for Waverly’s achievement, so she can’t call her Meimei. No one knows a chess champion by that name.
I hope this “Rules of the Game” summary, analysis and look at themes was a helpful Sparknotes substitute.
Home / Essay Samples / Literature / Amy Tan / Unpacking Cultural Norms: A Critical Analysis of “Rules of the Game”
Unpacking Cultural Norms: A Critical Analysis of “Rules of the Game”
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