Birthday by: David Wong Louie

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Birthdayby David Wong Louie

• Presented by Kayla East
• and
• Lara Dakkak

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Summary

• Birthday centers around a man named Wallace and
  the struggle he is going through to be a part of
  Welbys (a childs who he considers his own)
  life. Wallace is the narrator and goes back and
  forth in time reminiscing about the day that
  opened his eyes to the world around him. Wallace
  is of Chinese decent and is pressured by his
  parents to hold on to his traditions and marry a
  Chinese woman. At the end of the story, Wallace
  realizes that even though he did not get to be a
  part of Welbys life he still stood up for what
  he believed in even though he did not always
  understand it.

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Character Sketch

• Wallace Wong narrator, of Chinese decent, owns
  an Italian-style café, seems to be lonely and
  heartbroken, very adamant about seeing Welby.
  Will do anything for Sylvie and Welby.
• Frank Welbys father, referred to as the man
  by Wallace, abusive towards Sylvie, jealous of
  Wallaces relationship with Welby.
• Welby Frank and Sylvies son.
• Sylvie- Franks ex-wife.
• Wallaces parents - very traditional. They
  want Wallace to marry a smart Chinese girl who
  can talk without having to use her hands.

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Significance of the title

• The story centers around Welbys birthday and the
  struggle Wallace goes through to be a part of his
  life.
• The title could also signify Wallaces birthday
  in moving on and letting go, it was a rebirth for
  him.

How the story is told
Wallace is the narrator. The story is told in
first person. Wallace seems to be sad, lonely and
trying to lead an American life despite his
parents wishes. Wallace seemed honest, he
acknowledged his faults, and the fact that at the
end he was the one who lost.
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Look closely at the beginning and the ending. On
what does the author and narrator focus?

• At the beginning of the story, Wallace is
  somewhat lost as to what to do with his life,
  with his parents pressuring him to hold on to
  their Chinese heritage and marry a Chinese girl.
  Welby gave his life meaning and something to
  fight for. At the end, Wallace is unable to give
  Welby (who he thinks of as his son) a special
  birthday, but for the first time he feels at
  peace with himself.

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Character transformation

• Sylvie changes from being a mother figure to
  getting a divorce and losing custody of her
  child. She then forms a relationship with Wallace
  but suddenly leaves him. At the end of the story,
  she returns but to her ex-husband. She made a
  full circle.
• At the beginning of the story, Wallace is
  somewhat lost as to what to do with his life, and
  towards the end he begins to accept the path his
  life is taking.
• Wallace ends up alone but ultimately stayed true
  to himself. He had many opportunities to leave,
  he could have ended his relationship with Welby
  when Sylvie left him but he did not. At Franks
  house, he was given many opportunities to leave,
  but never took them. Welbys parents could not
  carry out their promises to him, but he could.
• Frank was competing with Wallace and Sylvie was
  competing with herself and was trying to find her
  place in society.

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Theme

• One major theme of the story is how some things
  in life cannot be changed and one needs to accept
  them, and once that happens you will stop
  fighting those issues and move on.

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Symbols and Allusions

• Black robe judge
• Nearest ears carved from stone Buddha
• Gang of four could represent the mafia
• Description of Franks house implies that he is
  rich
• Blind boy in the story Frank tells Wallace
  something can be going on right in front of you
  and you dont even see it.

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Primary Goal / Purpose

• Stay true to yourself
• even if you end up alone.

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Reaction to Story/ Intended Reaction

• Lara - anger that Wallace did not get to see
  Welby and that Frank was not honest with his son.
  If he was a real parent he would not be jealous
  of letting other people be a part of his sons
  life.
• Kayla - felt bad for Wallace because all he
  wanted was to be part of Welbys life and he
  could not do that because Frank would not let
  him.