ii
FENG’S STRUGGLE
S AGAINST THE PRACTICES OF
CHINESE PATRIARCHAL CULTURE IN
DUNCAN JEPSON’S
ALL THE FLOWERS IN SHANGHAI
: A FEMINIST READING
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
THERESIA ANNA SAPUTRO
Student Number : 104214025
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
iii
A Sarjana Sastra Undergraduate Thesis
FENG’S STRUGGLE
S AGAINST THE PRACTICES OF
CHINESE PATRIARCHAL CULTURE IN
DUNCAN JEPSON’S
ALL THE FLOWERS IN SHANGHAI
: A FEMINIST READING
By
Theresia Anna Saputro
Student Number: 104214025
Approved by
Dra. A.B. Sri Mulyani, M.A., Ph.D. September 12, 2014 Advisor
Maria Ananta Tri S., S.S., M.Ed. September 12, 2014
iv
A Sarjana Sastra Undergraduate Thesis
FENG’S STRUGGLE
S AGAINST THE PRACTICES OF
CHINESE PATRIARCHAL CULTURE IN
DUNCAN JEPSON’S
ALL THE FLOWERS IN SHANGHAI
: A FEMINIST READING
By
Theresia Anna Saputro
Student Number: 104214025
Defended before the Board of Examiners on September 29,2014
and Declared Acceptable
BOARD OF EXAMINERS
Name Signature
Chairperson : Dr. F.X. Siswadi, M.A. _________________ Secretary : Dra. A. B. Sri Mulyani, M.A., Ph.D. _________________ Member 1 : Harris Hermansyah Setiajid M.Hum. _________________ Member 2 : Dra. A. B. Sri Mulyani, M.A., Ph.D. _________________ Member 3 : Maria Ananta Tri S., S.S., M.Ed. _________________
Yogyakarta, September 29, 2014 Faculty of Letters
Sanata Dharma University Dean
v
STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY
I certify that this undergraduate thesis contains no material which has been previously submitted for the award of any other degree at any university, and that, to the best of my knowledge, this undergraduate thesis contains no material previously written by any other person except where due reference is made in the text of the undergraduate thesis
Yogyakarta, September 29, 2014
vi
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma Nama : Theresia Anna Saputro
Nomor Mahasiswa : 104214025
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul
FENG’SSTRUGGLESAGAINSTTHEPRACTICESOFCHINESE
PATRIARCHALCULTUREINDUNCANJEPSON’SALLTHE FLOWERSINSHANGHAI:AFEMINISTREADING
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin kepada saya maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal 12 September 2014
Yang menyatakan,
vii
Your story may not have such a
happy beginning, but that doesn’t
make you who you are. It is the
rest of your story, who you choose
to be…….
(Soothsayer
–
Kung Fu Panda 2)
viii
This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to:
My Beloved Parents
Brothers
Sister
Nephew
Niece
ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Jesus Christ. Without all the blessings, opportunities, and guidance I will not be able to finish my thesis successfully. Furthermore I would like to thank my thesis advisor, Dra. A.B. Sri Mulyani, M.A., Ph.D. for the useful comments, and remarks through the learning process of this thesis writing. I thank my co-advisor, Maria Ananta Tri S., S.S., M.Ed. for reading my thesis and giving me the needed corrections.
I am also thankful to my academic advisor, Anna Fitriarti, S.pd., M.Hum., all lecturers and officials of Sanata Dharma University English Letters Department for the guidance during my years of study here.
I am especially grateful to my parents, who supported me emotionally and financially. I always knew that they believed in me and wanted the best for me. Also, I would like to thank my brother for his advice and my sister for giving me inspiration. To my classmates and roommates, thank you for listening, offering me advice, and supporting me through this entire process. Finally, to my significant other, thank you for encouraging me in all of my pursuits and inspiring me to follow my dreams.
x
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ... ii
APPROVAL PAGE ... iii
ACCEPTANCE PAGE ... iv
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH .. v
STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ... vi
C. The Struggles against the Practice of Chinese Patriarchal ... 37
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ... 44
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 47
xi
ABSTRACT
THERESIA ANNA SAPUTRO. FENG’S STRUGGLES AGAINST THE
PRACTICES OF CHINESE PATRIARCHAL CULTURE IN DUNCAN JEPSON’S ALL THE FLOWERS IN SHANGHAI: A FEMINIST READING.
Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2014.
This thesis discusses All the Flowers in Shanghai written by Duncan Jepson. This novel is a historical novel. This novel tells about the life of Feng, the main character, under the patriarchal system in China. The writer wants to find out the struggles of the main character against the practices of Chinese patriarchal culture in Duncan Jepson’s novel.
From the topic, the writer formulates three problems which become the objectives of the study. The first problem is how Feng, the main character is described. The second is the practices of Chinese patriarchal culture experienced by the main character in the novel. The third is the struggles of Feng against the practices of Chinese patriarchal culture in the novel.
This study uses library research method. The primary source is the novel itself. The secondary sources are collected from books, articles, papers, reviews, dictionaries, and internet related to the topic. In answering the problem, some theories on literature are applied. There are theory of character and characterization, theory of patriarchal culture, and theory of feminism.
xii
ABSTRAK
THERESIA ANNA SAPUTRO. FENG’S STRUGGLES AGAINST THE
PRACTICES OF CHINESE PATRIARCHAL CULTURE IN DUNCAN
JEPSON’S ALL THE FLOWERS IN SHANGHAI: A FEMINIST READING.
Yogyakarta: Program Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2014.
Skripsi ini menganalisis novel yang ditulis oleh Duncan Jepson berjudul All the Flowers in Shanghai. Novel ini adalah novel sejarah. Novel ini menceritakan kehidupan wanita China yang bernama Xiao Feng di bawah sistem patriarki di China. Penulis ingin mencari tahu perjuangan tokoh utama dalam menghadapi praktek budaya patriarki di China dalam novel Duncan Jepson.
Dalam skripsi ini, penulis merumuskan tiga persoalan masalah. Persoalan pertama adalah bagaimana Feng, sang tokoh utama didiskripsikan. Rumusan kedua adalah bentuk praktek budaya patriarki yang dialami Feng. Rumusan masalah yang ketiga adalah perjuangan Feng melawan praktek budaya patriarki tersebut.
Skripsi ini menggunakan metode studi pustaka. Sumber utama yang digunakan adalah novel itu sendiri. Sumber kedua diambil dari buku-buku, artikel, naskah, resensi, kamus, dan internet yang berhubungan dengan topik. Dalam menjawab rumusan masalah, beberapa teori tentang kesusastraaan diaplikasikan dalam skripsi ini. Teori tersebut meliputi teori tokoh dan penokohan, teori budaya patriarki dan teori feminisme.
1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Literature is the way for human to express their creativity in paper through their experience using their senses (hearing, seeing, smelling, touching, and feeling). There are 2 forms in literature, fiction and non – fiction. Fiction is a type of literature which is not true or not real. The “real” one is called non – fiction. It means the works based on true story. Novel is one of the most well known forms in literary works. Most people love to read novel because it has an entertain effect. Mysteries, romance, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction are the types of novel.
Mysteries is about a crime, usually a murder, and the process of discovering who committed it. Science fiction is fiction that imagines possible alternatives to reality. Fantasy is about imaginary worlds. Horror is focused on creating emotions of terror
and dread in the reader. Thrillers are designed to make the reader’s
pulse race, to keep him or her turning pages. Romance fiction is about love and passion. Historical fiction are set in a past time period, normally at least fifty years before they were written. They combine a made-up story with realistic details of that time period. (http://www.creative-writing-now.com/types-of novels.html) (1 September 2013).
In Chinese culture, men are considered more powerful than women. Nanquin and Rawski in Chinese Society in the Eighteenth Century state that the woman in China is inferior to man (1987: 80). It means that China has patriarchal system in their society. Based on Lois Tyson, Using Critical Theory: How to Read and Write About Literature, a patriarchy is any society in which men hold all or most of the power (2011: 141).
In China, man and woman were not created equal. The younger sister of the great historian Ban Gu, prescribed the conduct appropriate to a virtuous woman.
To be humble, yielding, respectful and reverential; to put herself
after others… these qualities are those exemplifying woman’s low
and humble estate. To retire late and rise early; not to shirk
exertion from dawn to dark… this is called being diligent. To
behave properly and decorously in serving her husband; to be serene and self-possessed, shunning jests and laughter… this is
called being worthy of continuing the husband’s lineage (common
descent groups). If a woman possesses the above mentioned three qualities, then her reputation shall be excellent (Eastman, 1988: 19).
Talking about women’s discrimination, oppression and opposition is interesting because it is an old issue that still happens in some societies. All the Flowers in Shanghai written by Duncan Jepson is the example of Chinese theme which shows the practice of patriarchal culture. Women do not have chance to speak and express their feeling, including marriage. Women do not have choice to select their men but their parents.
know each other, and had not even seen each other, before the day of the wedding (Eastman, 1988: 24-25).
Women in China have been treated as an object since they were young. They can not choose what they want. Besides, the men can do everything they want, they have freedom to do something and they were born as a miracle. It is very contradictive between the treatment of men and women in China. Eastman in Family, Field and Ancestors states that
Event a birth, a girl generally brought little joy to the hearts of her parents, for the dictates of familism demanded sons to perpetuate the family line. A girl, by contrast, was a burden and an expense; she would have to be fed and clothed until she was seventeen years old or so, she would at considerable expense be married out to be
given in marriage to a stranger’s family. Conventional wisdom was summed up in the adage “The birth of a girl child is like a thief in the night” (1988: 20-21).
Discussing the position of women and relations between men and women, Kenneth Scott Latourette also agrees with Eastman that women’s position is inferior to men. Latourette mentions that male progeny has been necessary if these were to be continued. For this reason boys have been regarded as more valuable than girls (1951: 678).
described by Latourette in The Chinese, Their History and Culture. Latourette explains that yin and yang has different element which reflects men and women position in the society. He said that
The centuries old doctrine of the yin and yang has made for the higher status of men, because the yang, associated with good fortune and all that is desirable, has been identified with the male, and the yin, the element of darkness and evil is female (1951: 678). All the Flowers in Shanghai tells about the hard life of women and the relationship between a Chinese mother and daughter who lived under the patriarchal culture. There was a still strong patriarchal system in China in the twentieth century. Males were very dominant. Men hold the position of power. They were the leader of the family unit, social groups, workplace and government. This thesis shows the idea of woman in China in the twentieth century who is inferior to man. In that era, patriarchal system still strongly existed. In this study, the writer uses one of Duncan Jepson’s All the Flowers in Shanghai because this novel is a historical fiction which tells the Chinese life in the twentieth century. The topic is chosen because the writer wants to make an attention the struggles of the main character in the harsh condition under patriarchal system in order to get her own freedom.
B. Problem Formulation
These three questions are formulated in order to help the writer analyzes the novel and to understand this novel better.
2. What are the practices of Chinese patriarchal culture experienced by the main character in the novel?
3. What are the struggles of Feng against the practices of Chinese patriarchal culture in the novel?
C. Objectives of the Study
This study is intended to answer those three problem formulations. The first objective is used to describe the main character in the novel. The second objective is used to see the practices of Chinese patriarchal culture in that novel. The last objective is used to find out the struggles of the main character against the practices of Chinese patriarchal culture.
D. Definiton of Terms
Patriarchy literally means the rule of the father in a male dominated family. According Madsen in Feminist Theory an Literary Practice, patriarchy is
“an ideological system that privileges men and all thongs masculine, and a political system that places power in the hands of men and thus serves male interest at the expense of women” (2000: xii). Meanwhile the definition of patriarchy based on Andrew Edgar and Peter Sedgwick’s Cultural Theory: The Key Concepts is the un-equality between men and women in society so that
creates oppression of women. The term “patriarchy” literary means “the rule of
way in which societies are structures through male domination over, and oppression of women (2005: 269).
According to Light, Keller, and Calhoun in Sociology, culture is “all the learned customs, beliefs, and symbols that are constantly communicated among a set of people who share a common way of life” (1989: 79). Culture consists of patterns, explicit and implicit, and for behavior acquired and transmitted by symbols. Culture is the sum of total of the learned behavior of a group of people that are generally considered to be the tradition of that people and are transmitted from generation to generation (www.tamu.edu/faculty/choudhury/culture) (1October 2014).
Based on Lizbeth Goodman in Literature and Gender, feminist refers to “a person who has recognition of the historical, and cultural subordination of women (the only world-wide majority to be treated as a minority) and resolve to resist the
7
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A. Review of Related Studies
All the Flowers in Shanghai by Duncan Jepson is a historical novel which tells about Chinese attitudes toward motherhood, children and family. The dynamic in a Chinese family between father, mother, son, and daughter is complicated. Mother has to deliver a baby boy rather than a baby girl which represents patriarchal structure in China. Feng, the main character, in this novel shows the issue of patriarchal culture and presents the idea of woman movement through her decision to leave Shanghai and start a new life in other city.
The author of All the Flowers in Shanghai, Duncan Jepson, is a Eurasian, Chinese-English and has travelled around Asia since 1980s and learned Mandarin in Beijing in 1987. His mother inspired him in writing this novel. He got praise from some authors because of his poetic writing and his success to write the novel through female first person (www.alltheflowersinshanghai.com) (3rd March 2014).
In this study, I want to show the comments on Duncan Jepson’s novel, All the Flowers in Shanghai. Based on Qiu Xiaolong, the author of the Inspector Chen mysteries, Jepson wrote the novel based on the situation in China in the twentieth century. He could write beautifully and enthusiastically to describe the changes of China in the twentieth century through the main character.
Hong Ying, the international bestselling, author of Daughter of the River also agrees with Qiu Xiaolong that this novel describes the history of China, primary in Shanghai. “This story is breathtaking. Like a poem or a painting, it reveals the old Shanghai. It’s a great work that will move its readers.” (Hong
Ying, international bestselling author of Daughter of the River).
Besides the comments, the writer wants to review Agatha Piscesia Paskalin’s thesis titled Male Domination in the Footbinding and Secret Writing of
Nineteenth Century Chinese Women as Seen in Lisa See’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Paskalin’s thesis has similar topic with the writer’s research. The topic is about a historical fiction which shows male domination or patriarchal system appears in China. Paskalin stated
Lisa See’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a historical fiction which tells about the lives of Chinese women in the nineteenth century which was still in the era of pre-modern China where women’s position was inferior to men’s position… In this study, the writer is going to reveal how footbinding and women’s secret writing in nineteenth century China portrayed in the novel and how male domination relates to footbinding and the women’s secret writing well. Both will formulated in sociological scoope (2012: viii; 9).
Based on Paskalin’s analysis, it has a different form with the writer’s study. Paskalin uses sociological scoop but the writer uses feminist approach. The other thesis that the writer uses to review is from Aninditya Putri Arumsari. Her thesis is The Responses of Chinese Women toward the Practices of Patriarchal Culture as Seen through Adeline Yen Mah’s Falling Leaves. The similarities
characters to describe the patriarchal system. Meanwhile, the writer only used the main character to describe the patriarchal system. Arumsari will analyze five female characters inside Falling Leaves; they are Adeline, Aunt, Baba, Grand Aunt, Grandmother, and Lydia (2011: 26). It proves that this study is different from other studies.
In this study, the writer wants to make an attention in the struggles of the main character in the harsh condition under patriarchal system in order to get her freedom using feminist approach. Thus, this study is different from the other writers.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Character and Characterization
In drama, prose, novel, or other kinds of literature, character and characterization are important in literary works. Character is usually the main subject. M. H. Abrams states in A Glossary of Literary Terms that
Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say – the dialogue – and by what they do – the action (1985: 23).
Robert Stanton in An Introduction to Fiction describes the term of “character” as
He also adds that character in a story can be classified into two different types. They are major character and minor character. Major character is a character that may dominate the whole story and is frequently presented in it. Meanwhile, the minor character is presented in order to explain and help the other character, especially the major character (1965: 17-18).
Characterization is the way the character is created by the narrator so that the reader will understand about the character (Gill, 1995: 127). Baldick in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms says “Characterization refers to the representation of person in narrative or dramatic works by means of character’s actions, speech, or physical appearance” (1990: 34).
According to Murphy in Understanding Unseens, there are nine methods that an author can use. The goal is to make the character understandable to the readers. The nine methods are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thought, and mannerism (Murphy, 1972: 161-173).
2. Chinese Patriarchal Culture
The discussion about patriarchal system has interested a lot of writers all over the world. Madsen said in Feminist Theory an Literary Practice
Patriarchy is a cultural (ideological) system that priveleges men and all thongs masculine, and a political system that places power in the hands of men and thus serves male interest at the expense of women (2000: xii).
Meanwhile the definition of patriarchal culture based on Andrew Edgar and Peter Sedgwick’s Cultural Theory: The Key Concepts is the unequally
term “patriarchal” literary means “the rule of the father”. It has been adopted by
the majority of feminist theories to refer to the way in which societies are structures through male domination over, and oppression of women (2005: 269). It means that patriarchal system is the rule of male domination which creates the superiority of men. In other words man is very dominant.
Adrienne Rich in Madsen’s book, states that the term of patriarchy is therefore justified by this fact, that of the “universal” oppression of women by men.
Patriarchy is the power of the father: a familial-social, ideological, political system in which men by force, direct pressure, or through ritual, tradition, law, and language, customs, etiquette, education, and the division of labor, determine what part women shall not play, and in which the female is everywhere subsumed under the male (Madsen, 2000: 3).
Sylvia Walby in Pilcher and Whelehan’s book, defines a patriarchal culture as a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress and exploit women (Pilcher and Whelehan, 2004: 95). It means there is a social and ideological construct which considers men as superior to women. Maggie Humm also states in The Dictionary of Feminist Theory that “patriarchy has power from men’s greater access to, and mediation of, the resource and
rewards of authority structures inside and outside the home” (1990: 200). This access gives power for men to humiliate and to control women who are weakness than them because they believe that they have natural right to control women.
Ashley Montagu in Natural Superiority of Women explains that
of nature. Because men occupy the superior positions in almost all societies, such superiority is taken to be a natural one (1953: 23). This condition makes women accept the rule of male domination. They are aware or not if they are driven by men. The power that men have is the tool to oppress women. It leads the male domination because it already lives in the society as a permanent rule.
In a Chinese family, each member has their own functions. Men are the breadwinners, women are better in domestic activities, and children are the focus of family life. It means Chinese women had been second class citizen, and very far for having equal opportunities with men. It proves that there were position hierarchy that determined the rank and the responsibility. Daughters were expected to obey their parents’s authority and assist their mother in domestic tasks.
Eastman states that “a woman confined to the household had no need for
learning; she acquired no experience of the outside world; and she was thus kept ignorant and palpably inferior to men” (1988: 24). He also mentions the treatment of Chinese children.
In China, children were not cherished as individuals whose destiny was to fulfill their own unique potentials, but were valued because they and especially the sons would help with work in the fields, produce sons who would carry on the family name, and provide for their parents in their old age (1988: 15).
Hsu agrees with Eastman about how Chinese children are treated. She describes that “children are not trained to develop as children, but at every turn
Gallin also explains the ideal of Chinese family works in China: Social Life and Custom. He states
The structure of this ideal family was hierarchical, according to generation, age, and sex. It was headed by the eldest male, who wielded complete power over all the family members. The headship usually passed to the eldest son, or sometimes to the son adjudged most worthy. Wives, brought into the husband’s join household through family rather than individual decision, were subservient to the husband’s mother and to other family members (1978: 501).
Based on that quotation, it describes that Chinese family system is patriarchal, patrilocal, and patrilinieal. Patriarchal means the eldest male is the legal lead of the family. Patrilocal means marriage women have to follow their husband and stay in their husband’s house. Patrilienal means the decline is count
through the male bound line.
The Chinese family system is patriarchal, patrilocal, and patrilineal. Patriarchal means that the oldest male in a family is the legal head and responsible for all aspects of the family, including finances and behavior of the other members. Patrilocal means that the family centered in the male's home location; women were never permanent members of the family but came and went into this stable male family as they married, divorced, were widowed and remarried. Patrilineal meant that descent was counted only through
the male line.
(http://asia.isp.msu.edu/wbwoa/east_asia/china/culture.htm) (6 January 2014).
The social order in Chinese family also supports the patriarchal system in Chinese family. The social order creates a belief that good or bad in something is determined by family behavior. Eastman states
ideas and behavior were judged by whether or not they contributed to the well-being of the family (1988: 15).
The husband – wife relationship is strictly held to be supplementary and subordinate. “Marriage is male centered. The woman is obliged to produce sons, which are her indispensable contribution to matrimony” (Hsu, 1948: 107). The
obligation to deliver a baby boy shows the emphasis of woman’s duty to her
husband and especially her parents in law and do not show the partnership between man and his wife itself.
In China, old age means enjoyment of authority. The younger members of the family, sons, and daughter in law are the object of authority. Authority itself has meaning “centered in father son identification, express itself freely in relationship between the sexes, big family ideal, and education and is backed up by the wishes of dead ancestors” (Hsu, 1948: 242). Most of suffering happened to
women because if they do not obey their ancestors rule they will be thrown away for their society. “Woman have to respect their husband, fathers, older brothers,
and other related senior males, if they do not, they will find themselves becoming social outcasts” (Hsu, 1948:207).
It proves that there is an unequal relation among father, son, daughter in law and other family members. “However, equally important in the culture is the
factor of competition. Where there is authority there is no equality” (Hsu, 1948:
3. Feminism
Crawford in Talking Difference on Gender and Language explains the different way of acting of men and women is influenced by a way of creating difference.
When men and women are treated differently in ordinary daily interactions, they may come to behave differently in return. Thus, gender can be conceived as a self-fulfilling prophecy- a set of processes by which gender difference is created, the observed differences are conflated with sex, and belief in sex difference is confirmed (1995: 14).
The difference between sex and gender also be found by Millet. Millet ’s idea in Sexual Politics about the difference between sex and gender as follows.
A female is born and a woman is created. In other words, one’s sex, be that male or female, is determined at birth. One’s gender, however, is a social construct, being created by cultural ideas and norms. Consciously and unconsciously women and men conform to the cultural ideas established for them by the society. Little boys, for example, must be aggressive whereas little girls must be passive, meek and humble (1989: 193).
The statement above makes clear the difference between a person’s sex
and gender. Gender and gender-determined role are often determined by the society so that feminist struggles to break the stereotype of sex class.
Feminist according to Goodman is “a person who has recognition of the historical and cultural of women (the only world-wide majority to be treated as a minority), and resolve to resist the oppression and subordination of woman”
(1996: x).
economy, politics, and psychology. Lois Tyson states in Using Critical Theory : How to read and write about literature
Feminism , therefore, seeks to understand the ways in which women are oppressed-socially, economically, politically, and psychologically in order to reduce, if not eliminate their oppression. Ideally, feminism would like to achieve a society in which women and men are encouraged to fulfill their full potential as human beings regardless of the extent to which their abilities and inclinations differ from traditional (patriarchal) definitions of femininity and masculinity (2011: 139).
Feminism according to Maggie Humm is “the ideology of women’s
liberation since intrinsic in all its approaches is the belief that woman suffer injustice because of the sex” (Humm, 1990:74). This opinion creates and makes
the society judge that women are weak, less valuable than men and second class in the society because of the sex.
According Peter Barry in Beginning Theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory states:
In feminist criticism in the 1970s the major effort went into exposing what might be called the mechanisms of patriarchy that is, the cultural “mind set” in men and women which perpetuated sexual inequality (Barry, 2002: 122).
It means that in the 1970s, female characters created by male to show the stereotype of women should be and constructed by patriarchal system. So that patriarchal system and feminism are hard to be separated because patriarchal system is in the side of men and feminism is an idea that struggle for women’s rights and equalities.
Inequality means “that punishment for sexual offense is much more stringent for
women than for men” (Hsu, 1948: 237).
Radical feminist theory begins with the assumption that women form a sex class. They claim that the condition of women not just as a class but as the fundamentally oppressed class. The New York Radical Feminist Manifesto claims in Madsen’s book, Feminist Theory and Literary Practice.
Radical feminism recognizes the oppression of women as a fundamental political oppression wherein women are categorized as an inferior class based on their sex. It is the aim of radical feminism to organize politically to destroy this sex class system (2000: 153).
In radical feminist, gender oppression is the most fundamental form of oppression and precedes the economic structure of patriarchal societies. In Leclerq’s compilation, the feminist author Charles Poisson states his thought’s on
the liberty that women should as follows
The woman has quite as well as the man, right to live, work, and liberty. The man has been a lord and a master , long enough; the woman had all too long been a bondwoman in the household. The woman can no long put up of being dependent, with being treated as a minor, with being supported and maintained. We claimed to be human beings like the men; responsible autonomous, able to decide what we wish to do with our activity (Leclerq; 1942: 32).
Andrew Edgar and Peter Sedgwick in Cultural Theory: The Key Concept also state about liberation of women. They said that
The goal of feminism according to Guerin in A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature is to break the stereotyped of unequally between men and women. Feminists struggle the same rights of men and women so that they will be no superiority and inferiority in society. Women will be treated as men do and they will create new atmosphere that women are also valuable.
to change this degrading view of women so that all women will realize that they are not a “nonsignificant Other” but that each women is a valuable person possessing the same priveleges and rights as every men (2004: 180).
C. Theoretical Framework
There are several theories which applied in this thesis. They are theory of character and characterization, theory of Chinese patriarchal culture and theory of feminism. Theory of character and characterization is used to answer the problem formulation number one which is how Feng, the main character is described.
The second theory is Chinese Patriarchal Culture that is used to answer problem formulation number two which is identifying the practice of Chinese patriarchal culture in the novel.
The third theory is theory of feminism. This theory is used to analyze the struggles of Feng against the practice of Chinese patriarchal culture in the novel which appears in problem formulation number three.
19
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
This object of the study is a historical novel entitled All the Flowers in Shanghai. This novel was written by Duncan Jepson. His first novel, All the Flowers in Shanghai was a bestseller. He also co-storied the graphic novel, Darkness outside the Night with Xie Peng. Duncan Jepson’s current novel, Emperors Once More, the first in a crime series, publishes in March 2014.
All the Flowers in Shanghai was published by HarperCollins publishers in New York in 2012. All the Flowers in Shanghai consists of 302 pages and it is divided into 26 chapters. The novel, All the Flowers in Shanghai, by Duncan Jepson has many praises by some bestselling authors like Janice Y. K. Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Piano Teacher, Hong Ying, internationally bestselling author of Daughter of the River, Qiu Xiaolong, author of the Inspector Chen mysteries, and Geling Yan, author of the The Banquet Bug for his excellent way to create a story of a young Chinese woman in 1930s Shanghai who attempts to stop the cycle of history in Chinese tradition.
five feature films and has produced documentaries for Discovery Channel Asia and National Geographic Channel. He is also a lawyer and lives in Hong Kong.
All the Flowers in Shanghai is Jepson’s stunning debut novel. It is set in 1930s Shanghai, the Paris of the East. The tradition of paying respect still takes precedence over personal desire in that era. This novel shows us the struggles of woman under patriarchal culture.
B. Approach of the Study
The writer uses feminist approach to analyze the problems in this study. Bressler in Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice, states that:
Feminism’s goal is to change this degrading view of women so that all women will realize that they are not a “non significant Other.”
But each woman is a valuable person possessing the same privileges and rights as every man. Women, feminists declare, must define themselves and assert their own voices in the arenas of politics, society, education, and the arts. By personally committing themselves to fostering such change, feminists hope to create a society where the male and female voices are equally valued (1999: 180).
C. Method of the Study
The method of this study was library research. Most data were collected from books, articles, papers, reviews, dictionaries and internet.
The primary source that the writer used in this study was the novel itself which is All the Flowers in Shanghai by Duncan Jepson. The secondary sources were taken from related books, articles, papers, reviews, and dictionaries.
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CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
A. Description of The Main Character
Character is important in literary works, without characters the story can not be created. In this chapter, the writer analyzes Feng, the main character in Duncan Jepson’s All the Flowers in Shanghai. Characters in the novel or literary
works can be described through their said, dialogue, and action (Abrams, 1985: 23).
According to M. J. Murphy they are nine ways to characterize the character in a literary works (1972: 161-173). They are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reaction, direct comment, thought, and mannerism.
In order to answer the problem formulation number one, the writer uses
Abrams’s theory on character and uses some of Murphy’s theory on
characterization to describe Feng, the main character, in the novel.
Her sister has her servants for herself. She is prepared to marry a rich man to increase the social status in the society. Her sister is taught how to be a good wife and law. Meanwhile, Feng loves walking in the garden with her grandfather. She knows a lot of flowers’ name because her grandfather teaches her. She also loves
walking in Shanghai’s Old Town and buying some food there. The Old Town itself is a place where poor people live. If her mother knows what she did, she will be punished because her mother does not want her family has connection with the poor.
The Old Town had been constructed over several centuries as increasing numbers of peasants and immigrants settled there from the countryside. The buildings were mostly two-story, of rough, deep brown wood with tile roofs with narrow alleys running between them. People made their lives in these silvers of space – a hole in the floor with a fire beneath or a big oven to heat the living area in the cold Shanghai winter evenings (Jepson, 2012: 8-9). The depiction of Feng, the main character in the novel is:
a. A Dutiful and Obedient Person
Based on Abrams’s theory, character can be described through their said, dialogue, and action (1985: 23). By applying that theory, the writer can conclude that the characteristic of Feng is a dutiful and obedient person. Feng should obey the norm in family. Her devotion is for her parents and family. She could not complain with her life. She could not say disagreement to her parents. Parents are the person who could decide a decision. Children only follow and accept the decision without permission. Feng also must obey the norm because she is a Chinese woman.
shoulders were broader: she would never admit it but my body was more elegantly formed than hers. Mine had height and poise, but Sister’s had a swing and a way of moving (Jepson: 2012: 6).
As a secondary daughter, Feng does not have any special treatment from her parents. Her duty is to take care of her parents in their old age. She could not complain with all things she receives. Wearing second hand clothes from her sister describes that Feng is a dutiful and obedient person. She does not complain what she wears. She wears clothes which is comfortable. Truthfully, Feng is more beautiful than her sister if she has a chance to possess all treatments that her sister has. “He told me that you were a very pretty girl and I think he is right. You will look very beautiful in this dress, perhaps more so than your sister” (Jepson, 2012: 66). By comparing her appearance with her sister, it shows that she is beautiful than her sister. She has more attractively formed body than her sister. She just does not have an opportunity to show her beauty.
One day, when Feng meets with Bi, he also said that Feng is beautiful. “I liked talking to you, and I liked sitting here with you. You are very pretty” (Jepson, 2012: 45). This direct comment from Bi also mentions that Feng is beautiful woman.
I knew as soon as I saw your pretty face and that old-style dress that you were not like the rest of us older-women. You are beautiful and not yet affected by all this (Jepson, 2012: 126). Another proof that stated Feng is dutiful and obedient can be proved with this quotation
My childhood simply seemed to continue as it had started. It was for me to be concerned with the niceties of afternoon tea parties and noisy evening dances. I spent my time with flowers and grass, running to school and eating noodles on the street. I was not required to know anything more than what I learned from Grandfather and Ba. I had not been chosen to fulfill anyone’s hopes and dreams. Instead grandfather had showed me how to mirror nature’s quiet acceptance, not to scheme and plan and get my own way. I had not understood or felt desire, nor were there any high parental aspirations for me to live up to (Jepson, 2012: 11).
The common activities that Feng does which are spend the time with flowers and grass, running to school and eating noodles on the street describe that Feng enjoys her childhood although she does not have the full freedom to express her feeling. Those habits appropriate to Murphy’s theory, mannerism, which help
characterize the character through mannerism, habits, and unique feature (1972: 173).
b. A Middle Class Person
Xiao family is not rich but not poor. Her family can be called as a middle class family in their society. Women in Xiao family do not need to work hard in domestic activity because they have servants and cook to help them. “We have a cook” (Jepson, 2012: 32). It means that women in Xiao family do not need to
had missed supper” (Jepson, 2012: 49). It is only a middle class or high class
family who has a maid or a cook in their house. The conversation between her mother and sister shows the level class of her family. It is also suitable for the methods that Murphy stated. The method is by conversation of others. It brings the clues with the help of the other people’s conversation and their opinion made
about her (1972: 167).
“What is it? Why are you shouting? People may hear us.”
“I’m scolding her for spending time in the Old Town and speaking to the people there” (Jepson, 2012: 12).
She banned to visit Old Town because Old Town is a place where the poor lives. “We would pass hundreds of peasants lining the walls” (Jepson, 2012: 9).
Her mother also clearly forbids her family to visit Old Town “Those aren’t the
sort of people this family wants to know” (Jepson, 2012: 12). Feng’s grandfather
also explains that Old Town is a place for a poor. “There are many people in China. Fortune has blessed our family but she can not bless everyone, so those who have been unlucky come here to sell what little things they can and to beg for money and food” (Jepson, 2012: 9).
As a middle class family, they should prepare their first daughter to marry a rich man so that their social status will also increase in the society. They will do anything to make the first daughter gets a rich husband. For example, they will enter their first daughter in many courses.
When a young rich man who is the marriage partner of Feng’s sister
started buying her sister jewelry, her mother will be very happy and gives comment about the present to her husband.
“How much do youthink their family pays for the jewelry?” Before Ba could answer, she would reply herself
“I think they have special discounts at some of the best jewelers. It must be wonderful to live like that!” (Jepson, 2012: 19).
Those conversations prove that Xiao family comes from a middle class family. Her mother wants to live like Sang family who gives a lot of luxurious jewelries to Xiao family. Her mother and her family do not have enough money to buy the jewelries. Feng’s mother also keeps her prestige to show that her family does not need to sell the gifts they had received from Sang family so that she will not have a shame on Sang family who has higher status than hers.
But it was never enough. They should have sold the jewelries Sister was given, but Ma insisted it should be kept. It would have repaid at least some of Ba’s outlay, but no, everything must be kept as proof that they were not desperate and had no need to sell the gifts they had received. Such was Ma’s dream: to marry a daughter into Society, to the wealthiest family in town (Jepson: 2012: 21).
c. A Silent Person
Feng described as a silent person. It can be proved by her thought about herself when she is compared with her sister. “She always seemed too far above me, living a life of such complexity and sophistication I could only marvel at her. She was like a visitor from another family: unrelated to my shyness” (Jepson,
2012: 12-13).
Someday, the rich man calls her and takes a short conversation with Feng, but she does not say anything. She just keep in silent because of her shyness.
“Xiao Feng,” he spoke softly to me. I quickly glanced up at him then returned to studying his shoes. “Don’t you think your sister is beautiful? She is probably too beautiful for me. My father is very impressed by her, though.”
I kept looking at his shoes, which were very large (Jepson, 2012: 18).
One day, a boy from another city comes to visits her town. His name is Bi. They know each other when they are in the pool near the garden where Feng and her grandfather spend their whole time together. Bi also said that Feng is a shy girl. “You don’t say much. The girls in my home town can’t stop talking.”
(Jepson, 2012: 32).
Women in China could not express their feeling freely because they are female. They are taught by her mother how to behave properly. Chinese women should keep their behavior in public so that they will have a good reputation as a Chinese woman. They should be serene and self possessed, shunning jests and laughter. The family background and the culture contribute the silent of women in China indirectly. It also happens with Feng. She could not speak with men spontaneously. If she did, she will call as disobedient daughter.
“Would you like to come and eat dumplings at my home?” I asked. I did not know why I had said this; I had forgotten all the lessons on good manners I had received. Bi had already accepted my invitation before I realized that Grandfather should be the one asking him, and because I was too young and a girl, Grandfather would not agree (Jepson: 2012: 35).
women’s family. “Feng-Feng, it is not right at all that you should invite a boy to our home. It is not your place to ask and brings shame on our family” (Jepson: 2012: 36).
d. A Confined Person
As a secondary daughter, Feng had not been chosen to fulfill her parents’s hopes and dreams. She just lives to take care of her parents in their old age. As a Chinese daughter, Feng only accepts this situation. She never complains with her life. Feng also never envies at her sister when her parents give special treatment for her sister. Feng is more interested in walking through gardens with her grandfather, but her life changes suddenly with an unexpected death. Her sister passes away. She should replace her sister position to marry a rich man. She should marry her sister’s fiancé. Feng should marry into the powerful and rich family of the Sangs. Feng knows if she marries a rich man, she will never get freedom. She could not do anything to prevent the wedding. She should obey her parents’s decision no matter what. She will be interned as a prisoner in the jail.
This dress was the final act in the completion of Sister and Ma’s relentless striving, and though Sister would never wear it, and to me it would be a prison, the seamstress must continue to follow their directions and create something beautiful. A beautiful cage in which a man, like those who sat in the market, could keep his little bird. He could bring out the cage and force his prisoner to sing whenever he wanted to be amused, to show off to his friends or simply to make the little bird suffer. It was the one he would hang up on his porch so he could listen to the birdsong whenever he did not want to feel he was alone (Jepson, 2012: 65).
As I told you, I used to spend all my time outside in the gardens and park” (Jepson, 2012: 143). Feng could not go outside like she did when she was young. She should bring good reputation to Sangs. She could not do anything she loves. All of things must be done properly. Feng not only lives for herself but also for her husband and laws. She should keep her attitude properly so the society gives respect on her. If she not, she would brings a shame on family member because she is a wife of Sangs.
Young mistrees, you must be careful in this house. You must watch what you say to people here. There are many rivalries between the members of the family; many old grudges (Jepson, 2012: 80).
After the marriage, Feng must behave properly in Sang’s house. She
should be aware of her attitude. This condition makes Feng to feel like she is not in a house but it seems like she is in the jail. She should say and behave properly even in her own room. A little improperly attitude creates a shame on her and it will take a long time to forget.
B. The Practices of Chinese Patriarchal Culture Depicted in the Novel
Women’s living in China is completely isolated because there is a cultural
or ideological system that treats a special right to men. This special treatment creates unequalled and oppressed most women in China. As Edgar and Sedgwick state that “patriarchy is the unequally between men and women and creates oppression of women” (2005: 269).
In Chinese tradition, each member of the family has his own functions, for example men are the breadwinners, women are the housewives, and children are the continuing wealth. In a patriarchal family, a daughter is more suffering rather than a son. Most family in China prefers to have sons than daughters. They look forward to have a daughter because she can take care of her brothers and parents then (Eastman, 1988:20). This situation happened in Feng’s life. Feng is a
Chinese woman who lives in early twentieth century which male domination is still exist. There are some Chinese patriarchal culture experiences that Feng has in the novel as follows.
1. Performing the Duty as A Good Daughter
daughter duty in China. They do not have any special skill like men have. It is the example of the practice of Chinese patriarchal culture in that era.
In China, the treatment between first and second children is different. Although the secondary daughter knows that she is served different with the first, she still obeys and respects her parents.
I want to cry and shout but knew that I must obey (Jepson, 2012: 12). I felt what I had always known: that I was second and less important to the family. I must always give way. It was not that Ma and Ba did not love me, more that they preferred to follow tradition and custom rather than to break them. Their devotion to the first child was simply greater than it was to the second, and they could not help that. I could neither win more love from them nor alter their devotion to the eldest. I realize now that this was not something they chose but a thousand-year-old instinct. (Jepson, 2012: 50). I did not struggle, knowing I must do as I was told. (Jepson, 2012: 66).
In patriarchal society, women do not have the same right like men. This system press women through ritual, tradition, law, and language, customs, etiquette, education and the division of labor. Women do not have the part to play it properly (Rich, 1976: 3). This condition proves that women’s social positions are inferior than men. The domination is in the male side. Men are prepared to continue the decline so that education is important for them. Meanwhile, the women are not prepared to continue the decline. They only bear the sons and take care of their parents so that education is less important. “She had decided would
2. Accepting the Arranged Marriage
Chinese women in the early of twentieth century do not have a choice to choose her marriage partner. The marriage partner is arranged by parents. “Most women in those days still entered marriages created by their parents and matchmakers, and in the countryside many couples did not even meet each other before the wedding” (Jepson, 2012: 90). The daughter must follow her parents’
decision about the marriage partner (Eastman, 1988: 24-25).
Your sister died and her fiancé’s family want the wedding to go ahead. They asked if our next daughter could take Sister’s place. The Sang family have made it clear that there must be a marriage. It would be considered a terrible loss of face for them if one did not take place. They also believe it is time their eldest son had a son of his own, and there is no time to find him another bride. They all thought you looked very beautiful in the wedding dress (Jepson, 2012: 61).
The arrangement also happened in Feng’s life. She can not choose her partner by herself. All of decision is set by parents and the daughter is banned to reject the plan because all of parents say is right.
I did not want to marry this man. I did not want to see him and his father. I did not want them to visit me and take me away. I did not want to dance with this young man as Sister had done. But I could not argue or disobey, and like Sister before me I must assume that they were right. The family had told Ma and Ba what they wanted, and this had been accepted. I must respect their decision and follow it. I had no other choice (Jepson, 2012:62).
The parents have their own standard in selecting the partner. Feng’s
professions were acceptable, but Ma was practical and considered capital preferable to intellect” (Jepson, 2012: 16).
Parents select the man properly because marriage does not only bring her daughter to other family but also marriage increases family’s class. If her daughter
married to rich man, the social status of woman’s family raises. “Ma’s dream: to
marry a daughter into Society, to the wealthiest family in town. Entering into such an association would bring Ma herself good standing and esteem” (Jepson, 2012:
21).
Most of parents believe that if their daughter married to a rich man, she will be happy. They have confidence that their daughter is lucky that she can marry a rich man. Parents do not care about their daughter’s feeling whether they agree or not with the arrangement.
I’m glad I have found you. I wanted to tell you how very lucky you are. Getting married is not something every girl is fortunate enough to do, particularly to a man with such a good family background. This is very good match for you, you are very lucky (Jepson, 2012: 68-70)
3. Dropping the Education Out
The marriage forced Feng to drop her school one year earlier. “There was no more school for me. I had left one year before my last year anyway” (Jepson,
2012: 114). She could not continue her education. She should do her duty as a wife and a daughter in law in her new house in Sang family. Feng’s parents allow Feng to drop her school one year earlier for the wedding. They do not question about her daughter education whether it is possible to finish the education first before the wedding. They only concern with the wedding and their social status without care about their daughter’s feeling.
4. Serving and Obeying the Husband and the Laws
The daughter is not the only one who suffered but also the wife. In patriarchal culture, the relationship between husband and wife is not equal. After the marriage, the husband will bring his wife into his house. The wife will stay in husband’s house and must obey the norm. Husband has power to control his wife. He can do anything he wants to his wife. The wife will serve not only her husband but also her parents in law, brothers in law and sisters in law. A woman who is humble, yielding, respectful, reverential, diligent, and worthy of continuing the husband’s lineage is called excellent woman (Eastman, 1988: 19) and most
women are created to have great reputation.
Feng must obey her husband and serve him as well. “I should do what
my husband told me” (Jepson, 2012: 93). Those quotations show how the main
Andrew Edgar and Peter Sedgwick in Cultural Theory: The key concepts. Patriarchy itself is the rule of the father. It has been adopted by the majority of feminist theories to refer to the way in which societies are structures through male domination over, and oppression of women (2011: 269).
This is a woman’s role. Your husband must satisfy himself. He is not a cruel man but he has not yet learned how to be gentle and kind to another person. There is still too much of this house in him (Jepson, 2012:99). You must be the respectful, dutiful daughter in law. Your mother in law’s last job in life is to get a grandson for her husband. And when she does, things will get better (Jepson, 2012: 124).
To satisfy her husband and give a son for her husband is a duty for Chinese women. In Jepson’s novel, Feng must obey the norm of patriarchal
culture in China which brings oppressions for her. The oppressions are: have sex with her husband who she does not love and give her husband a son who will continue family name and continue the business which has been built for a long time ago.
Feng knows very little things about men. She does not know what she should do after marriage because no one tells about women life after marriage. It is awkward when her husband comes into her room and touches her. She never has experiences with a man. Feng never talks or closes with a man but her father and grandfather.
respect, the most face. Even your husband must follow this, no matter what. She is his mother“ (Jepson, 2012: 80). Being obedient is a must as women in China. They should respect their laws. They should behave properly. They must follow the husband family’s role. “The Sang family has its own rules and you must play
along with them if you want to stay there. You must be the respectful, dutiful daughter in law. Your mother in law’s last job in life is to get a grandson for her husband” (Jepson, 2012: 124). In husband’s house wives are treated badly. They should know the proper behavior when they meet with others families. They also have to deliver a baby boy to keep family line exist. The most important thing to the family is for Feng to produce an heir and the heir must be a baby boy. “You must give this family a son. They’ll be happy once they have their heir” (Jepson,
2012: 135).
C. The Struggles of Feng against the Practices of Chinese Patriarchal
Culture
In this part, the writer wants to figure out the struggles of Feng, the main character under the practice of Chinese patriarchal culture. There are three struggles are shown by Feng in order to against the practices of Chinese patriarchal culture.
patriarchal culture. She wants to obtain happiness by living her life independently. The struggles of Feng against the practices of Chinese patriarchal culture are seen as follow
1. Reading a lot of Books
Feng truthfully was an educated girl. She has studied at school. Her grandfather always accompanied Feng when she went to school. “Except going to school, I am not allowed to go into it without my grandfather” (Jepson, 2012: 42). Not having the right of opportunity to enter the education is one of the obstacles for Chinese women to get their own right and freedom. It also happened with Feng. She does not continue her education because she has to marry a rich man.
There was no more school for me. I had left one year before my last year anyway. School rules and classroom gossip had been exchanged for invented family traditions and Sang family politics. My days were now run according to Sang routine and tradition. I could not miss breakfast or dinner. Lunch I could have in my room. If Father in law required anything of us, we must naturally obey, then for me came the orders of First Wife, and finally my husband. If I were not required by any of them I could do as I pleased, though I could not leave the house unless I had first asked permission and even then must be chaperoned (Jepson, 2012: 114). Feng is forced to marry Sang Xiong Fa so that she could not continue her education. She should obey all of her parents’s arrangements included the marriage. She also drops from the school. After the marriage Feng must obey the family norm of Sangs and does not have freedom to express her feeling freely. She does not refuse all of her parents’s decision because she thinks that it is her
It shows patriarchal system because she should obey the decision that her parents give to her and she could not argue when her right to study is taken away. She thinks that obeying the elder family is a duty because she lives in patriarchal society. “The structure of ideal family was hierarchal, according to generation,
age, and sex” (Gallin, 1978: 501).
One day, her husband invites her to dance at the Cathay Hotel. She meets with a modern Chinese woman. Her name is Ming. Ming is a stylish, confident, and educated woman. “Ming understood everything. I had learned also that she was an exception: educated and confident, a woman with her own opinions and ideas” (Jepson, 2012: 157).
That short meeting brings hope for Feng to go through a period of her life in Sang family. Ming gives her advice to keep reading and writing although she does not continue her education. She gives those advices because she wants Feng to understand the condition around her.
According to Lois Tyson, the goal of feminism is to encourage women and men to fulfill their full potential as human beings (2011: 139).
Did you go to school? You look like a girl who went to school. Well, let me give you some advice then: keep reading and writing, read anything you can, because it will help you. We women, and you are a woman. Today in fact a beautiful woman needs to be educated. You never know, do you? (Jepson, 2012: 125). As she had advised, I read whatever books I could find though they meant little to me then (Jepson, 2012: 157).
This situation damages the right of women to get education. The action of Feng which keeps reading and writing shows the struggle of woman to get the same right with man in order to get knowledge. It brings positive impact for Feng to know the world around her through reading.
In fact, Feng’s action to get knowledge from reading and writing is banned by the society because women should not involve to politic zone. Their duty is only to maintain their family such as serving the husband, and the laws, bearing the offspring, teaching the children, and arranging the domestic activity.
2. Facing Parents in Law
As a wife, Feng should obey not only her husband but also the laws. Wives were subservient to the husband’s mother and the other family members (Gallin, 1978: 501). This situation makes Feng uncomfortable. Her mother in law also shows hostile attitude to Feng. She underestimates Feng because she thinks that Feng does not have an appropriate criterion as her daughter in law. “
“Well, we expected it. You saw the size of her feet and those huge muscles on her legs? She is like a fisherman’s wife,” First Wife commented. I wished I could have been. My excitement turned to fear again as I began to understand the nature of this family and what had now happened to me. I wished myself anywhere but there, though I had not yet found the words to express this. (Jepson, 2012: 84).
secondary daughter. Her parents do not care about Feng because as a secondary daughter, Feng’s duty is taking care of them when they are getting older.
The marriage makes Feng frustrated. She never thinks that she will replace her sister position to marry a rich man who is chosen by her parents. During her life, she just spends her time with her grandfather in the garden. Her grandfather teaches her to memorize the name of flowers. She only knew about flowers but the marriage.
In the Sangs’s house, Feng tries to avoid her laws because she does not want in big trouble. She does not want to meet her mother in law especially who always underestimates her. If Feng meets her mother in law accidentally, she only bends her head down and shows the respect of her.
This was the first time I had seen First Wife exert her power. She had been unkind and occasionally cruel to me and I was very nervous around her, but I had not so far been afraid (Jespon, 2012: 117).
Time by time she forces herself to be brave when she faces her parents in law. She gets her courage to face her parents in law when she delivered a baby boy who has a right foot which is has not grown properly. She knows that she gives imperfect offspring to Sang family.
