Chen Literary Analysis

Lulu and Te-Ping are frequently described in relation to each other, beginning with the description of their birth. Chen reflects “they laid us side by side” (1) in the hospital. After they were released, he recalls “For the first few weeks of life, our skulls had matching indentations from where they’d been pressed against each other in the womb, like two interlocking puzzle pieces,” (1). This description of the twins suggests that they were different from each other, but that these differences perfectly aligned in a way that made them fit together. The twins naturally go on to compare their achievements to each other, as do their parents. Chen uses numerous similes and metaphors to describe his everyday experiences growing up. This use of figurative language further develops the pattern of comparison that is established at the beginning of the short story. It normalizes comparison in order to suggest that it is natural to draw connections between people and experiences. The figurative language is most prevalent at the beginning and end of the short story because these are the times in which the twins are most clearly compared to each other by their parents. Early on, Chen contrasts his relationship with his parents with Lulu’s relationship with them. He does so by comparing his parents’ interactions with Lulu to a form of religion. He describes this using the metaphor “my parents worshipped at her altar,” (1). He elaborates on their approval for Lulu by using a metaphor to describe her departure for college as well. Chen remembers “At the airport, our parents assumed expressions appropriate for refugees being abandoned at the border,” (2). The tones of pride and desperation in these metaphors emphasize the admiration that Chen’s parents have for Lulu. While the metaphors compare two experiences, they simultaneously heighten the contrast between Lulu and Chen. Chen includes a few similes and metaphors at the end of the short story as well. Notably, he recalls “When Lulu said that she and Zhangwei were planning to move nearby, our mother froze, as through she’s been handed a cracked egg and didn’t know what to do,” (12). Unlike the earlier metaphors, this similarly portrays Lulu negatively. She appears unpredictable. This shift in the effect of the figurative language parallels the shift in Chen’s parents’ perception of him and Lulu. By the end of the story, the parents have begun to admire Chen more than Lulu. This portrayal of Lulu justifies that shift.

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