Themes: Secrets and Silence
Waverly is drawn to the game of chess initially because she thinks of it as a game characterized by secrets. At first, of course, chess is a complete unknown for Waverly; she must build her knowledge gradually, through a series of matches with Vincent, then with Lau Po, and eventually in competitive tournaments. She is attracted to her sense that chess’s “secrets [are] waiting to be untangled” and is up for the challenge. Once she becomes skilled in the game, Waverly has her own secrets, her strategies for how to defeat her opponents, which are the result of experience and her imaginary matches that she plays in her room while looking at the ceiling or at her drawn chessboard on the wall. It is to her advantage to have secrets in chess. She claims, “That is the power of chess. It is a game of secrets in which one must show and never tell.”
The idea of showing and not telling also links with Waverly’s lessons on silence and “invisible strength,” given her from a young age by her mother, Lindo. Her mother tells her that the “strongest wind cannot be seen,” which implies that Waverly should be quiet and obedient; she should not draw attention to herself. Because of their reliance on silence, the metaphorical chess game that builds between Lindo and Waverly as Waverly grows up becomes more difficult to navigate. Each must guess at her opponent’s next move and wonder at how the other feels or what the other is thinking. It could be argued that the “invisible strength” that Waverly and Lindo share, and that Lindo so determinedly taught her daughter, leads to greater tension in their relationship because they do not communicate openly. Silence and secrets are advantages in chess but may not be as useful in relationships.
Expert Q&A
What does Waverly's description of chess as "a game of secrets" imply about life strategies?
Waverly's description of chess as "a game of secrets" implies that life strategies often involve withholding information to maintain an advantage. In chess, as in life, mastering hidden knowledge and strategic thinking can lead to success. This reflects the "art of invisible strength" Waverly learned from her mother, which involves using subtlety and silence to win arguments and earn respect. This approach is evident in Waverly's chess games and her interactions with her mother.
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