.

             The first "talk-story" creates the basis of the Chinese traditional values Kingston encounters at home. This story describes the outcast of the aunt who has an affair with, and becomes pregnant to, an unnamed man in her village. The seriousness of her betrayal was conveyed through the repeated words like "forbidden," "alone," and "separate." "The villagers punished the aunt for acting as if she could have a private life, secret and apart from them".

             (p.13). The Chinese culture is initially portrayed as brutal and ever present in Kingston"s home where "even now China wraps double binds around my feet" (p.48). .

             "When we Chinese girls listened to the adults talk-story, we learned that we failed if we grew up to be but wives or slaves. We could be heroines, swordswomen" (p.19). Kingston"s mother also uses a "talk-story" to instill the idea of becoming an individual, a woman warrior. In the chapter entitled "White Tigers," Kingston explores the tale of Fa Mu Lan, a daughter who took her father"s place in the war against the Han. Through this story, Kingston realizes that being a failure (wife or slave) for a female is traditional in the Chinese culture and therefore recognizes the importance of becoming an individual. "She said I would grow up a wife or slave, but she.

             taught me the song of the warrior woman, Fa Mu Lan. I would have to grow up a warrior woman" (p.20). She also recognizes her mother as being a warrior. Brave Orchid, Kingston"s mother, was an important figure in her village back in China; she had attained a doctor"s degree. .

             "I"m never getting married, never!".

             "Who"d want to marry you anyway? Noisy. Talking like a duck. Disobedient.

             Messy. And I know about college. What makes you think you"re the first one to.

             think about college? I was a doctor. I went to medical school.