When a vile fashion editor assumes that Eden is a hotel staffer, Eden is reminded that the English village where she grew up was a haven from the realities of racism. How does she navigate the world of prejudice and elitism? In what circumstances do Augie, Bea, and Rufus suffer less because they are biracial?
Eden is so lovely and gracious. She never lets it show that she might be bothered. The Gresham’s, I believe avoided most of those circumstances because of their being mixed and the fact of their titles.
Eden navigates prejudice and elitism with strategy and grace. As a self-made woman, she faces judgment from old-money elites but handles it with elegance and poise. Augie, Bea and Rufus’ mixed identities allow them to avoid some of the outright discrimination Eden faces, but they’re still trapped in a system that values appearance and legacy above authenticity.
The Gresham children are not faced with overt discrimination because they are wealthy and titled. However, without their legacy or their alleged money, I believe they would be worse off than Eden - neither perceived by others as truly belonging to China or Britain.
Eden as a young girl is accepted by the rural hamlet she lives in because she and her respected father are known to all as well as associated with the Greshams. As a result she knows little of discrimination. As a young modern woman, she has an authenticity and confidence that allows her to face discrimination with poise.
Essentially all four are treated well when people know who they are. However, when people don’t, Eden and Bea are mistaken for servants.
I think Eden is secure in herself. She became a doctor and spends her time helping people. She knows her “place in this world”. She realizes what others think aren’t as important as what she thinks of herself. Yes, she is subjected to racial prejudice but somehow moves forward without it doing much harm. She is the one character in this book that exhibits integrity and self worth. True, biracial Angie, Bea and Rufus are never thought to be part of the “wait staff”.
I felt Eden just bent to the wishes of that family and outside of the family lived her life. She was a beautiful, attractive doctor and it didn’t seem like outside of that family or their environs she dealt with much prejudice..unless she was going to those elite places where it took her a minute to realize how she was being treated. As for the others being bi-racial, I guess they were able to pass for white and therefore not be treated in that manner. They also have an air of wealth, wearing the ‘right’ clothes and at times, I think that’s what also got them through.