“A mother is always the beginning. She is how things begin.”
The focus of the narrative is motherhood and the connection between the mother and daughters. As such, it displays the lives of three generations of women and their relationship with their young ones. For instance, it is revealed that Precious Auntie is LuLing’s biological mother who taught her everything she knows. As a caregiver, she ensures to pass down the history, skills, and the significance of continuing the culture through writing. Though LuLing underwent her share of struggles, Precious Auntie tried to lessen her challenges and pain. Similarly, LuLing creates a better life for her daughter Ruth in America by making difficult choices in her youth. Before her illness, she makes sure to write down the family history and secrets to tell Ruth who she is.
“You should think about your character. Know where you are changing, how you will be changed, what cannot be changed back again.”
The narrative demonstrates how generational trauma can be passed down through emotional and psychological baggage. Precious Auntie uses her physical injuries from ink resin as a metaphor for the emotional scars that persist. She is emotionally traumatized akin to her daughter LuLing who had a tough childhood too. This pain transfers to the granddaughter through how LuLing interacts with Ruth and the misunderstandings in their relationship. Their culture emphasizes the importance of one’s character in charting through life. Therefore, every decision that can change them for good or bad is worth every consideration. Consequently, accepting the changes that cannot be reversed and learning to move forward with them.
“Why can’t I see it now? I’ve pushed a hundred family names through my mouth, and none comes back with the belch of memory. Was the name uncommon? Did I lose it because I kept it a secret too long?”
The statement is a realization that the family secrets could die with her if she forgets to pass them down. Luckily, LuLing writes the family history that defines her as a person to allow Ruth to understand her better. By reading the manuscripts Ruth reconciles the resentments towards her mother that had built up over time. The clash in their relationship stems from the miscommunication that exists between the immigrants and the subsequent generations. In passing down the knowledge and secrets they give the younger generation a voice that they never had.
