The Kitchen God's Wife

author: AmyTan

Winnie is the most important character of the book. Winnie's experience had introduced us to what a typical Chinese woman's life looks like in the past. If the author didn't choose to use Winnie's story, which is like a bird without its wings, this novel wouldn't impress the readers.

After I read this book, although the book didn't give a specific appearance of Winnie, by reading all these experiences about her, I could imagine Winnie must be a melancholy woman. All the events happened to her in the past really became part of her life, which remains a nightmare. These painful experiences became an unforgettable mark inside of her heart.

Winnie's misfortune started when she was a child. She lived in a fancy mansion in Shanghai. Her father was very rich. He had many wives. Her mother was just one of them. Later on, her mother left. Winnie never know why her mother left and where her mother went. She always wondered, but nobody gave her the answer. Her father had many children. He never realized her, Winnie, a motherless child. As you could see, Winnie's childhood was full of loneliness and helplessness.

Later, Winnie's family sent her from Shanghai to Tsungming Island. Over there, nobody treated her with respect, especially her uncle, who had always yelled and bit her with no reason. Winnie lived there for twelve years. When Winnie met her first husband Wen Fu, she thought she would get a better life. In fact, Wen Fu was taking her to another deep hell. Wen Fu treated Winnie even worse that her uncle did. Wen fu is very changeable and unpredictable. The first minute he treated you like a queen, but then in next minute, you found yourself in hell. Wen Fu is abnormal. He whispered Winnie to say dirty street languages. He forced her to take off her clothing and stand outdoors when it's winter and he also sexually abused her. However, what Winnie couldn't stand is that he used her as a stake. Whenever he lost in gambling, Winnie had to spend a night with the winning guy. What Wen Fen did caused Winnie pain both physiologically and psychologically. The same thing kept repeating everyday in her living, until Winnie met her second husband, Jimmy. The appearance of Jimmy let her believe there was still hope in her life. Jimmy played like a firefly in her living, which guided her go through all the darkness and evilness of human nature. Finally they escaped to America together.

If I were Winnie, I don't think I'd have courage to face all these crises and hardships. Anyway, I admire her because of the hardship she faced, but also the decision she made at last, enabled her to win in her life. I feel proud of her, she represents a resolute characteristic of Chinese women.