The first side effect of Simon's manipulation was that he slept with the narrator. Although the narrator had feelings for Simon before the story he told, she did not enjoy the intimacy. Simon, on the other hand

loved it and he even wanted to go at it again. This is one of the signs that Simon perhaps didn't really care much about what he was saying and just said it to manipulate the narrator into doing something that benefits him and gives him pleasure. After this act of passion, Simon and the narrator became somewhat of a couple.

In my opinion, the theme that Amy Tan in implying is that young ladies should wake up and not let themselves be manipulated. In a way I think this is already happening, back in old days, women were always being manipulated and never said anything about it, they just kept their mouths shut and took it. But nowadays women are learning from each others mistakes and when they realize, like the narrator in the excerpt "Fireflies" that they are being or have been manipulated; they break it off and move on. Women are getting stronger everyday and I believe that Amy Tan is pushing thi

Some common words found in the essay are:
Amy Tan, Elsa Simon, Simon Elsa, , ex girlfriend, amy tan, effect simon's, narrator feelings simon, effect simon's manipulation, feelings simon, simon narrator, elsa simon, narrator lost, narrator feelings, simon elsa, narrator doing,
Approximate Word count = 609
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)