The Letter: Chapter 26 Summary, Analysis, and Study Notes
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
In late April, a letter arrives for the narrator's mother while she is at work. Ms. Anita hands it to the narrator, who initially hopes it's from Mrs. Ding or Uncle Sen. When she opens it, she discovers it's from Uncle Jian. He writes that a repatriated soldier delivered their earlier letter from Mount Davis, and that Yei Yei wants the family to come to Taiwan. Uncle Jian will arrange entry permits and requests copies of identification, mentioning a ship at the end of May. He provides a Taipei address and urges them to write back quickly.
The narrator reads the letter three times, feeling a mix of excitement and anger. She reflects on how Nai Nai's earlier rejection had shattered their world, and now Uncle Jian's letter feels like a fragile bandage. She questions whether Father supports the move, since the letter comes from Uncle Jian, not Father. She shoves the letter in her pocket, ties Lan on her back, and goes to find Di in the city center.
She finds Di outside a restaurant, eating dumplings. The narrator tells her about the letter, and Di reacts with shock. Di argues that Nai Nai told them not to come, and suspects Nai Nai intercepted Uncle Jian's earlier letter. The narrator insists Uncle Jian wouldn't lie, and that Yei Yei's wishes outweigh Nai Nai's. Di, however, begins tearing the letter, shouting that they can't give it to Mom because Mom will drag them to Taiwan. The narrator fights to save the letter, and the restaurant owner, Mrs. Siew, intervenes. The narrator kicks Di and runs back to Mount Davis with the letter, memorizing the address in case Di tries to destroy it again.
That evening, Di doesn't return for dinner. The narrator shows the damaged letter to Mom, lying that it was an accident. Mom is overjoyed, believing the family wants them back. She insists they should go to Taiwan. Biao-Wu, who is present, congratulates them, but the narrator questions whether Father is truly involved. Mom dismisses her doubts, saying they can build a better life in Taiwan.
When Di finally returns, she refuses to go to Taiwan, sparking a heated argument with Mom. Di argues that they are doing better in Hong Kong and don't need the Angs' charity. Mom counters that their lives are sustained by charity and that in Taiwan they would receive help from family, which is obligation, not charity. Di accuses Mom of being a coward and running back to Father. The argument escalates, with Di saying she would rather make matchboxes and eat garbage than live with Father and Nai Nai again. The narrator sides with Mom, and Di runs off into the hillside.
The narrator follows Di, worried about the dangers of the dark hillside. She encounters drunken men who make her uncomfortable, and she calls out for Biao-Wu. Biao-Wu appears and leads her to his hut, where Di is staying. The narrator tries to persuade Di to come home, but Di refuses. A scuffle ensues, and during it, a trading card falls from Di's pocket. The narrator recognizes it as one of Di's treasured singer cards, which she thought Di had left behind. The sight of the card reveals to the narrator that Di has been silently carrying a piece of her old identity. Biao-Wu intervenes, stops the fight, and walks both sisters back home.
Key Events
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A letter from Uncle Jian arrives, offering the family passage to Taiwan and entry permits.
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The narrator reads the letter and feels conflicted, questioning Father's role and Nai Nai's earlier rejection.
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Di tries to tear the letter, fearing Mom will force them to go to Taiwan.
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The narrator shows the damaged letter to Mom, who is overjoyed and decides they should go.
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Di refuses to go, leading to a fierce argument with Mom about dignity, charity, and obligation.
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Di runs off to Biao-Wu's hut; the narrator follows and finds her there.
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A scuffle reveals a hidden trading card, symbolizing Di's lost identity.
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Biao-Wu stops the fight and walks both sisters home.
Character Development
Hai (the narrator): Hai's perspective shifts from initial excitement to skepticism and anger. She questions the family's motives and feels the foundation of her world breaking again. She also shows maturity by taking responsibility for bringing Di home, even though she is tired and frightened. The discovery of Di's trading card forces Hai to see her sister in a new light, recognizing Di's silent suffering and forced maturity.
Di: Di emerges as fiercely independent and proud. She rejects the Angs' charity, preferring to survive on her own terms in Hong Kong. Her attempt to tear the letter shows her determination to protect her family from what she sees as a betrayal. The hidden trading card reveals that she has been quietly holding onto her past, even as she projects toughness. Her argument with Mom highlights her fear of returning to a family that rejected them.
Mom: Mom's reaction to the letter is one of overwhelming hope. She sees Taiwan as a chance for a better life and is willing to swallow her pride for her daughters' future. Her argument with Di reveals her desperation and her belief that family obligation is a form of security, not charity. She also shows a desire to maintain harmony, asking the girls not to air grievances in front of others.
Biao-Wu: Biao-Wu acts as a mediator and a voice of reason. He congratulates Mom but also reminds the girls to be kind to her. His intervention at the hut stops the fight and emphasizes the importance of family bonds, especially for those who have lost their own siblings.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Family obligation vs. independence: The central conflict of the chapter. Mom sees Taiwan as a place where family obligation will provide security, while Di views it as charity and a loss of independence. The narrator is caught between the two.
Trust and deception: The letter raises questions about Nai Nai's earlier deception. Di suspects Nai Nai intercepted Uncle Jian's first letter, and the narrator wonders if the nurse story was a lie. The chapter explores how trust is fragile in a world of political and familial upheaval.
Hope vs. skepticism: Mom's joy contrasts with the narrator's doubts. The narrator questions whether Father supports the move and whether the family truly wants them back. This tension reflects the broader uncertainty of refugees.
The trading card as a symbol of lost identity: Di's hidden trading card represents the part of herself she left behind in Zhucheng—her singing, her childhood, her sense of self. Its revelation shows that even the toughest exterior can conceal deep loss.
Maternal sacrifice: Mom's willingness to swallow her pride and return to a family that rejected them underscores her commitment to her daughters' future. She sees Taiwan as a way to give them more than mere survival.
Political uncertainty: The argument touches on the threat of Communist invasion of Taiwan and the relative safety of Hong Kong under British rule. This highlights the precariousness of the characters' lives.
Forced maturity: Both Hai and Di have been forced to grow up quickly. Di's armor of toughness and Hai's responsibility for her siblings are both responses to trauma.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in the novel. It introduces the possibility of reuniting with the Ang family in Taiwan, which will shape the family's decisions and relationships for the rest of the story. The letter from Uncle Jian reopens old wounds and forces each character to confront their feelings about family, pride, and survival. The argument between Mom and Di crystallizes the central tension between security and independence, while the trading card moment deepens our understanding of Di's character. The chapter also highlights the narrator's growing maturity as she navigates her own doubts and takes on the role of peacemaker.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Di tear the letter, and what does this reveal about her character?
Di tears the letter because she fears that Mom will use it to force the family to return to Taiwan, where they would be dependent on the Angs, who had previously rejected them. This action reveals Di's fierce independence and her unwillingness to accept charity or return to a family that hurt them. It also shows her protective instinct toward her mother, even if her methods are destructive.
2. How does the narrator's view of Di change after the trading card falls out?
The narrator had always seen Di as loud, manipulative, and selfish. The trading card, which Di had kept hidden, reveals that Di has been silently mourning the loss of her old life and identity. The narrator realizes that Di's toughness is a suit of armor, and that she has been forced to grow up too quickly. This moment shifts the narrator's perception from judgment to empathy.
3. What does the argument between Mom and Di reveal about their different priorities?
Mom prioritizes security and a better future for her daughters, even if it means returning to a family that rejected them. She sees Taiwan as a place where family obligation will provide support. Di prioritizes dignity and independence, preferring to struggle in Hong Kong on her own terms rather than rely on the Angs. The argument reveals a generational and philosophical divide: Mom is willing to sacrifice pride for safety, while Di sees pride as essential to survival.