“Bite back your tongue,” scolded my mother when I cried loudly, yanking her hand toward the store that sold bags of salted plums
. At home, she said, “Wise guy, he not go against wind. In Chinese we say, Come from South, blow with wind—poom!—North will follow. Strongest wind cannot be seen.” The next week I bit back my tongue as we entered the store with the forbidden candies. When my mother finished her shopping, she quietly plucked a small bag of plums from the rack and put it on the counter with the rest of the items. When the narrator bites back her tongue, what two forces are struggling? Meimei vs. self Lindo vs. Meimei Lindo vs. self Lindo vs. Lau Po
This conflict is an example of Meimei vs. self. Although it was her mom who advised her to hold back her tongue, it is ultimately Meimei's decision to listen to the advice and try it. Moreover, the conflict lies in the fact that Meimei has to decide between following her instinct and complain, or listening to her mom and being quiet. The conflict is all carried out inside of Meimei's mind.
