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Irony
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:
Because of how closely the story follows the character of Mr. Shi, the mood of the story often shifts, depending on Mr. Shi's mood. When Mr. Shi talks to Madam in the park, the mood is often self-reflective and filled with comfortable understanding. Though they both can only speak a small amount of English, they are able to understand each other. But when Mr. Shi talks to his daughter, the mood is often one of conflict and misunderstanding.
At first, when Mr. Shi tries to talk with his daughter, the story's mood reflects his curiosity. He asks about the smaller aspects of his daughter's life, such as her work, her colleagues, what she eats for lunch or what books she reads. Questions are one way in which Mr. Shi tries to reconnect to his daughter. However, the more questions Mr. Shi asks, the less satisfactory the answers become. As a result, Mr. Shi becomes frustrated and he asks his daughter why she is so closed off, prompting his daughter's reply that he himself was never talkative. The mood thus turns conflicted:
Mr. Shi, not prepared for such directness from his daughter, is unable to reply. He waits for her to apologize and change the topic, as people with good manners do when they realize they are embarrassing others with their questions, but she does not let him go. Her eyes behind her glasses, wide open and unrelenting, remind him of her in her younger years.
Mr. Shi holds the traditional belief from Chinese culture that women should not be confrontational. He is taken back by the directness from his daughter, whom he previously saw as quiet and submissive. Mr. Shi wants to talk to his daughter to learn more about her divorce and help her find another partner. But, it is clear that his daughter does not see his questions coming from a place of care. What Mr. Shi did not realize in the past was that his daughter knew of his lies. Now older, his daughter holds him accountable and asks the questions that she had not been able to ask growing up. Much of the conflicted mood comes from the unanswered questions from both parties.
At the end of the story, Mr. Shi admits to Madam that he had lied about being a rocket scientist, and the mood shifts back to being reflective. Mr. Shi reveals to the reader about his past and eventually comes to the conclusion that one should focus on the present. The story ends with a more positive, forward-looking mood after this revelation.
Related Themes:
