Relationships can have a significant effect on a person's life, how someone can grow or how someone can create memories and moments. Relationships can range from friendships to romantic interests. No matter the type, they can end in loneliness and loss. In the novel Women Of the Silk, by Gail Tsukiyama, she expresses powerful connections through relationships. Mei-Li and Hong’s relationship starts as a strong romantic bond that ends in the loss of the relationship and Mei-Li. This is also shown through Pei and Lin’s relationship as best friends throughout the novel until the end, once Lin passes away. These relationships both demonstrate how love inevitably ends in loss. In Women of the Silk, the relationships between Mei-Li and Hong as well …show more content…
Mei-Li and Hong’s relationship starts happy and healthy, and everyone around can see. An example is shown, “At other times, when Mei-Li returned from her walks, there was a glow in her eyes that did not die for days” (108). During the beginning of their relationship, while Pei and Mei-Li were living in Auntie Yee’s girl’s house, Mei-Li would secretly take walks to meet with Hong. Mei-Li would always come home happy, and that happiness stuck with her. Mei-Li was in love with Hong. As time passes, Hong starts to lose feelings for Mei-Li. It could be observed, “I love you!’ Mei-Li blurted out”...”But I do not love you’ Hong said”(118). Hong did not love Mei-Li, while Mei-Li was overly in love with him. Mei-Li would sneak out and go out of her way to see Hong, which was for nothing. Mei-Li was heartbroken, and she did not know what to do. She could not handle the burden of her loss; she wanted to feel at peace. Mei-Li was then found dead in the river, a suicide. Hong and Mei-Li’s relationship starts as happy and healthy, though it ends once Hong tells his true feelings. Mei-Li and Hong lose their relationship as well as losing …show more content…
Lin quickly got Pei’s attention during their first interaction. She has never seen a girl like Lin before. Pei states, “The girl's gentle smile met her frightened gaze, clear dark eyes staring with kindness out of a pale, slender face. Pei had never seen a face so smooth and delicate before” (30). Upon Pei's arrival at Auntie Yee’s girl's house, she is frightened, confused and alone, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. One face in particular, Lins, sticks out to Pei. Lin is the first person Pei meets. She then comforts Pei and informs her about life in silkwork, and they instantly connect and their relationship only gets stronger over time. Pei and Lin are inseparable; you would never see Pei not by Lin's side. However, all of Pei’s happiness and love towards Lin quickly ends when Lin unexpectedly passes away. Pei feels lost, and the following can show that, “Pei lost her voice after Lin died. Words felt useless and flat against the great dark wall that surrounded her.”.. “Pei was paralyzed with something she had never felt since her childhood: loneliness”(265). Pei had spent every moment she could with Lin, going on trips and working with her; they loved each other's company. Now, Pei was alone with no best friend by her side. Pei had a lonely childhood, which was replaced by Lin's love. The relationship created between Pei and Lin begins quickly as a