An Analysis Of Adeline Yeh Mah's Falling Leaves

How was a woman who has experienced nothing but rejection by her own family and abuse, able to do well in life? Adeline Yeh Mah, the author of her memoir Falling Leaves was that woman. From the beginning of her life, she was blamed and rejected by her brothers and sister for the death of their mother. She was bullied by her brother Edgar and was forced to help her sister do her daily task. As Adeline got older the abuse got worse. Her mother remarried a woman named Jeanne, called Niang by the children. Adeline experienced more abuse from Niang than she ever did with her brothers and sister. Adeline did well in life despite the abuse and rejection from her family because she was a determined, persistent, and strong person.

Adeline's continuous persistence was one of the reasons she was able to be successful.

During Adeline's time, Shanghai her father children were not getting tram fare so they got from Ye Ye and was forced to beg their father and Niang."Somehow, throughout the years I lived in Shanghai, from 1943 to 1948, I could never make myself go to Niang and beg for my tram fare"(52).Even though all her of siblings begged for tram she could not have made herself do it. This show how strong Adeline's will is. A few later in Shanghai Adeline was doing well in school and she won the class president. Adeline knew that she could not invite people over to her house and she did not but her friends came in uninvited. She got yelled and beaten while her friends were there and forced to kick out her friends. She said "Thank you all for coming. I shall never forget your loyalty"(69).Adeline never talked about her family at school because she was afraid that her friends might not respect or like her. Even though she was at her lowest point she still tried to stay strong and act like nothing happened. Due to her strength, she became a successful