In the first line of the story "Rules of the Game," Waverly talks about "invisible strength." In the second paragraph, her mother tells her,...

"Rules of the Game" is a story about figuring out what the rules are and then using those rules to succeed, both literally as a competitor in the game of chess, and more figuratively as newcomers to the United States who are learning the social rules of life here and using those to find social and financial success.

When Waverly and her mom think of strength as something invisible, they mean that through silence, restraint,...

"Rules of the Game" is a story about figuring out what the rules are and then using those rules to succeed, both literally as a competitor in the game of chess, and more figuratively as newcomers to the United States who are learning the social rules of life here and using those to find social and financial success.

When Waverly and her mom think of strength as something invisible, they mean that through silence, restraint, dedication, and the willingness to manipulate others by hiding your own knowledge and intentions, you can get what you want from your social relationships.

Whether or not a reader agrees with this idea will be strictly a matter of opinion: yes, no, maybe, it depends, both yes and no.

Personally, I think Waverly's mom and Waverly herself do make a good point about how strength can be silent, but I don't think it applies in all situations. If you view the world as essentially one big competition, and if you think that in life there are winners and losers and a limited amount of prizes, then you might agree with these characters' definition of strength as a sneaky tool with which you manipulate others. But if you view the world as a more cooperative place, and if you think that our goal in life is to help each other, then no, you would disagree with the idea and state that strength can be something shared in a social space, and further, that strength can be used for something other than personal advancement.

Here's an example if you agree with Waverly and her mom. Let’s say someone is teasing you, but you decide not to tease that person back or even respond at all. You ignore it instead. This type of silent restraint really takes a lot of strength: on the inside, you’re angry and annoyed, but on the outside, you maintain your dignity and avoid allowing the situation to escalate.

And here’s an alternate example if you disagree with the women in this story. Let’s say you notice that someone is treating someone else unfairly. Someone is cutting in line, or taking someone else’s food without asking. You summon your strength and say to the aggressor, politely but firmly, “Excuse me, but you shouldn’t…” This takes a lot of strength, too! You’re risking embarrassment, and you might make an enemy for yourself. But your open display of strength is just as important as someone else’s silent strength.