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Marilyn Walker Lee longs desperately to be different from her mother, Doris, but, in marrying James Lee, a Chinese-born historian, she only partially realizes this goal. Her struggle with the gap between what she had wanted to do with her life—become a doctor—and what she actually does—become a mother—defines her character and contributes to the novel’s tragic circumstances. Across Marilyn’s childhood, Doris carefully maintains a traditional version of a woman’s responsibilities. She keeps an immaculate house and, after her husband leaves her, uses these same principles to support herself and her daughter by teaching home economics. Marilyn rejects these ideals, which include racist assumptions about marriage, but nonetheless ends up tending to her own husband, home, and children. Anger and frustration are her defining traits, and they lead her to temporarily abandon her family. Her frustration grows increasingly toxic after pregnancy again thwarts her career goals.
When Marilyn transfers her frustrated ambitions to her daughter, she transforms her ambition into expectation, tasking young Lydia with the responsibility of fulfilling her goals. What might seem to be love is, instead, a form of control and manipulation. As she discovers how little she knew Lydia after her death, Marilyn begins the slow process of change, communicated by moments where she finds commonalities with her youngest child, Hannah. Their interactions suggest that Marilyn’s relationship with Hannah will be healthier and happier.
