Wild Swans
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Jung Changs 1991 novel, Wild Swans gives the reader a significant insight into a period of uncertainty and insecurity in Chinese history. From the novel the viewer is able to identify universal issues which are still prevalent today. Feminism recurs throughout the text as the women fight for respect as their society faces turmoil, using the communist rein of Mao as their opportunity for equality. Wang Yu represents the public as his own values clash with that of the communists. Due to his unswerving loyalty to the party he dismisses his own morals for that of a higher power.
Grandfather Wu Er-ya-tous attitude is echoed throughout the text as he believed that a women should suppress their emotions and to have no opinion. This is demonstrated as each women of each generation struggles against this outlook and either succumbs or fights against it. Foot binding represents submission to traditional values and conventions, a metaphor for womens lack of rights. Women constantly modified their bodies to conform to societys expectations, indicating their lack of dependency and individuality. Power and status is based on a mans property such as concubines being collected. “it was good for a man in his position to have as many concubines as possible – they showed a mans status”. This exhibits this period of Chinese history as emotional attachment is removed and women are treated as a possession which bettered her husbands prestige.
“swallowed opium to accompany him into death”. This establishes that there was no escape from the obedience which is forced upon the women by society. Womens lives were dedicated to serving their men as they followed them into death. “seen as a means of keeping people like her contented” society wanted people such as concubines to be in a constant haze where there was no chance of critical thinking or rebellion. “The first my grandmother knew..” this demonstrates the grandmothers lack of participation in her own affairs. Jung Changs emotive writing style aims for sympathy from the reader as she is factual and brunt, hoping for the reader to connect to the situation as they apply their own emotions.
The changing roles of women are significant as it demonstrates a time of change in Chinese history. As equality in wealth is fought for under Maos rein the women have also fought for equality in genders. The traditional saying, “Women have long hair and short intelligence” is distinguished as the women are displayed as strong and independent in the generation of De-Hong. These individuals are a contrast to their previous generation who were submissive and obedient. As three generations of women are represented in the novel the audience has a rich understanding of the lives of women in a shifting period of history.
Wang Yu (Jung Changs father) can be considered a representation of the people of China as he gives his unswerving loyalty to communism. Although his personal values and the values of communism clash he continues to stand for communism and bring justice to for the cause. “Dr Xia could tell that my father was not fully convinced himself, but felt he had to defend the party”. This demonstrates Wang Yus uncertainty