37 And no one can hurt me.‟” p. 82… James gives this advice when Adeline gets a
punishment because she lies to Niang.
4.2.2.3 Aunt Baba
Aunt Baba is Father‟s sister. After Adeline‟s mother‟s death, Grandmother and Father persuade Aunt Baba to quit her job
at the Women‟s Bank and stay in Tianjin to take charge of the household. She is put on the payroll of Joseph Yen
Company at the same salary that she has been paid in Women‟s Bank. She has to ensure that the house runs along similar lines as before. They also ask Aunt Baba
to help Father in growing and educating the children. She cares about all the children, especially Adeline. Aunt Baba always cares about their clothes, school,
and health so that she never cares about her own chances to have marriage: She became our surrogate mother, worrying about our meals, clothing,
schooling and health. An invisible silken handcuff was thus slipped around her willing wrists, evaporating her chances of marriage and a family of her
own p. 25.
For Adeline, Aunt Baba is like a mother. They become closer. Aunt Baba gives her attention to everything about Adeline, especially her appearance, health,
and personality. The most of all, she cares about Adeline‟s education. Aunt Baba
always helps Adeline ‟s homework by checking it every evening. She also wakes
Adeline up at five if she has a test: Aunt Baba was always like a mother to me. Now we drew even closer. She
paid the greatest attention to everything about me: my appearance, my health and my personality. Most of all, she cared about my education,
probably mindful of the fact that her own had been curtailed. She checked my homework every evening. On days when I had a test, she woke me at
five so that I could set off for school with my head crammed with last- minute revisions p. 60.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
38 Aunt Baba is determined that Adeline should eventually gain a college
degree so that she can have her independence and achievement. Because of that Adeline studies hard to please Aunt Baba.
Aunt Baba also always gives support to Adeline. She always makes Adeline believe that Adeline is smart. She is inordinately proud of Adeline‟s
success at school. Aunt Baba files Adeline‟s report and makes it as priceless jewels. When Adeline feels bad or things bad happen to her, Aunt Baba always
consoles her by seeing her reports and says that she is so brilliant by having great As in almost everything. She also gives her support that she will succeed and can
go to university: She made me believe I was brilliant. Her pride in my small achievements
was truly inspirational. She filed each report diligently in a safe deposit box and wore the key around her neck, as if my grades were so many
priceless jewels impossible to replace. When things were bad, she consoled us by taking them out and l
ooking at them. „See this one? First grade and all of six years old and getting As in everything already. My
My‟ Then „I‟m certain nobody going to university could have a more perfect record.‟ Or „We‟ll be the most successful banker yet, just you‟re
your Grand Aunt, and we‟ll work together in our own bank.‟p. 62.
T hose Aunt Baba‟s supports give Adeline strong motivation to study hard
and get her best efforts. Aunt Baba also always gives her some advice when Adeline feels down or bad. She often imagines that her mother will take her to a
new place. She always warns Adeline to focus on her education. “Concentrate on the things you‟re really good at. Get yourself the best education you can“ p. 74.
4.2.2.4 Ye Ye
