Characters
This character is the narrator of The White Umbrella.
Who is the unnamed Chinese-American girl?
The narrator wants this item because she believes it will make her seem special.
What is the white umbrella?
The story explores the tension between these two cultures.
What are Chinese and American cultures?
Polite; Respect
Courtesy
She is the narrator’s younger sister.
Who is Mona?
The narrator tells Miss Crosman that her mother does this for work.
What is a concert pianist?
The white umbrella symbolizes this feeling the narrator has about herself.
What is shame or insecurity?
To follow or fit into the rules or standards of a group.
Conform
This woman gives the narrator the white umbrella.
Who is Miss Crosman?
The narrator hides the umbrella here after the car accident.
What is under the car seat?
The narrator throws the umbrella away, showing this realization.
What is self-acceptance or valuing her family?
What is right and wrong about how someones behavior.
Moral
She works at a Chinese restaurant, which embarrasses her daughter.
Who is the narrator's mother?
The narrator feels this way about receiving the umbrella.
What is guilty or conflicted?
The piano lessons represent this aspiration or desire.
What is fitting in or upward mobility?
Careful to avoid detection.
Discreet
This person picks the girls up from piano lessons and crashes the car.
Who is their mother?
This event happens on the drive home from piano lessons.
What is a car accident?
The narrator's lie about her mother’s job shows this theme.
What is identity and cultural embarrassment?
A surprising and previously unknown fact.
Revelation