Summary:
In both Raise the Red Lantern, by Zhang Yi Mou, and A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen, it is clear that women have expectations which they are to live by. In A Doll's House, Torvald shows that Nora is a product of society by saying, "Nora, Nora how like a woman." In Raise the Red Lantern, Songlian is forced into a way of life she does not want to live and therefore goes insane.
Trapped
In both Raise the Red Lantern, by Zhang Yi Mou, and A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen, it is clear that women have expectations which they are to live by. In A Doll's House, Torvald shows that Nora is a product of society by saying, "Nora, Nora how like a woman." After living a life in costume, Nora finally decides to discover who she really is. In Raise the Red Lantern, Songlian is forced into a way of life she does not want to live and therefore goes insane.
Nora and Songlian are both prisoners of their cultural environments, in which they wish to break free from. Nora is trapped in a culture in which her gender holds her back. She has always been told what to do by male figures in her life, whether it is her father or husband. In her household her only duties are to her husband and children. Torvald, Nora's husband, cares mostly about his reputation and appearance, so Nora is constantly being told what to do and how to act, he repeatedly reminds her, "Before all else, you're a wife and a mother." He treats her like a child and this leaves her completely helpless. Nora lacks happiness in her life, her only strength to get what she wants is to put on a mask and pretend that her life is what it is not. Songlian on the other hand is trapped by traditions and customs. In Asia males are thought of more highly than women. Women are only worthy if they can produce a male heir; some women are even killed for producing females. After the death of her father her family doesn't no longer has the money to let her live the lifestyle she has formerly been living. She is then forced into a lifestyle that she hates. She lives in a house with three other mistresses, it soon turns into a war for the male which they do not even love. Every night Songlian is forced to stand outside in hopes that her master well pick to stay with her for the night. Songlian is obviously not happy and is constantly fighting with her maid, Yan'er. Her second sister, Zhuoyun, is two-faced and is secretively plotting against her. After her third sister, Meishan, is killed for having an affair, Songlian eventually goes insane. Now she is not just physically trapped, but is mentally as well.
As both women become more aware of their surroundings they realize that they do not need to live the lifestyle they have been living in. Nora finally realizes that Torvald is a complete stranger to her and that she does not love him anymore. She tells Torvald, "I have been performing tricks for you, Torvald. That's how I've survived. You wanted it like that. You and Papa have done me a great wrong. It's because of you I've made nothing of my life." Torvald cares more about what everyone else will think about the fact that his wife is leaving him, so he propose that they live under the same roof with a brother-sister relationship. However Songlian's escape is not an escape at all, she mentally escapes. Although she is still apart of the Chen family once Meishan is killed she becomes mentally unaware of her surroundings. The death of Meishan helps Songlian realize that there is no escape and that she will forever be trapped.
Throughout their lives Nora and Songlian survived by using their inner strengths. Nora's only comfort at home is when her husband's doctor, Dr. Rank, would come over. She tells him, "You know how much I enjoy it when you are here." Dr. Rank loves Nora, and their relationship is better than Torvald and Nora's. When Dr. Rank isn't around Nora is masked, constantly portraying herself as helpless, she tells Torvald, "I can't get anywhere without your help." Nora also flirts to get what she wants. Once Songlian arrives at the Chen house she has no one to confide in. Her strength is the knowledge of that she is the new mistress, young, beautiful, smart, and she can do whatever she wants. Eventually Songlian develops a relationship with the third mistress, Meishan. Songlian soon starts to lose hope and drinks; while being intoxicated she reveals information that later leads to the death of Meishan. This is the breaking point that results in her insanity.
Clearly Songlian and Nora were both prisoners in a world controlled by males. Both women had much in common they wish to break free from from their confinment. As their life progresses they fine inner strenghts which help them surive. Eventually they realizes this is a life they do not have to live and they try to break free by standing up for what they believe is right. Althought Nora was able to breakfree and Songlian was forever imprisioned, they both broke away from their expectations.
This is the complete article, containing 817 words
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