“Du Tenth” is a Chinese love story that shows the relations between passionate love and conformation to social norms. This story shows the traditional roles of men and women from the past of China and how love is sometimes blinded by things such as money, control, and they want to be accepted in society. Although from a different time and culture, the moral lessons and themes from these stories can be compared to the Greek story “Bacchae”, where a half-man, half-god gives the power to the women of the village to unite and fight against the oppressions that tradition has placed upon the role of women.
The fact is that money as in most communities is essential for survival. Money is often regarded as something more valuable than the human being itself. Money and the consideration of prosperity often discourage lots of individuals from things adored by people, as, for instance: family, wife/husband, and one’s own feelings. Feng Meng-long’s story, “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewelry Box in Anger”, is a genuine depiction of how money is estimated in the relations between Du Tenth and Li Jia. Du Tenth regards money as not what she estimates the most all through life while Li Jia appears to think only about money and the impact it has upon Du Tenth. Li Jia’s constant staying only because of money seems to Du Tenth too suspicious, and he starts disliking it. It became one of the reasons why she did not survive. In this story, love relations are depicted to have a charge and that charge factually becomes the price of Du Tenth’s life. This concept of desertion, love, and wealth is essential to the theme of the story.
In the beginning, their relations developed harmonically, and as in any relations, nothing mentioned possible difficulties. But After Du Tenth had got to know that she is not the only Li Jia’s passion, the situation changed dramatically.
From the very beginning, Li Jia was just a scholar who desires to purchase an academy scholar rank. And saying Du Tenth had never stumbled upon female attraction Li Jia, and was a big financier. It is necessary to mention, that throughout the whole story Du Tenth has a low rank which is regarded as a commodity, the charge of her freedom is 300 and the price of herself is 1000.
On the other hand, she has a true sense of love for Li Jia, she believes he can give her sanctity. Although, Du Tenth is actually afraid of his father, but still sworn with Du Tenth. That’s clarified why later Li Jia obtained that type of recital, as generally any understanding had been displayed, and he did not know what to do, and how to think over the occurred situation.
Li Jia is a man of little supremacy and uncomplicated to control. First of all, Li Jia was short of economic constancy to keep his wife Du Tenth; consequently, he is effortlessly influenced by the notion of monetary increase. Love in the story is described as a powerful reaction of tender friendliness and consideration, something that Li Jia was short of. Du Tenth was in love with Li Jia to a degree that she does not devour herself with his inopportune financial position, and is able to do something to overcome the occurred difficulty.
He does not consider Du Tenth worthy sufficient of going to his home as of her rank and reputation as a prostitute. Li Jia’s expectation that money, authority, high opinion are the main essentials to life establishes to be critical. The eventual power that appears to be the key factor in Li Jia’s conclusion to abandon Du Tenth is his notion of what his family would do as a consequence of his relations with Du Tenth. To make the circumstances worse Li Jia is to charge in its entirety. Li Jia could never be condescension with what he has as the whole thing that had its significance something to him is gone. The harm has been done and the wonderful instance of real relation is gone everlastingly. Du Tenth is dead and Li Jia will eternally be feeling alone and sorrow-stricken as his true love is no more with him. Nevertheless, this is obviously not the situation for Du Tenth and Li Jia. The offered statement entails that the guidance, Sun Fu, should have not been such pressure on Li Jia where he refuses to acknowledge Du Tenth.
It is necessary to emphasize that it was shown that love has its own price, and this price is often too high for everything continued happily. The fact is that all the couples do not feel the necessity to sacrifice anything for their love. But sooner or later love requires some sacrifices. As a rule, both need to forgo something the most precious. So one may consider, what are the consequences of these relations?
In matrimony, when a couple believes his or her vow it is presumed to be for better or worse until bereavement does us part. This disloyalty is a straight outcome of Li Jia not being convinced of her. Thus, the contemplation of this disaster will everlastingly encumber his heart. The young master was both ashamed and upset.
Of course, the ending of everyone showed this moral msg. The essence of the whole story is in the very last sentence: When a person has true love, the form that it takes in doesn’t matter, even been called romance, there’s no shame.
It is also significant to state, that this story is a very famous and representative work that shows us how women lived in china’s feudalism society. Li Jia in the end chose to suicide dump into the river with her jewelry box, it is also a very special way for Chinese women to revenge. Moreover, she pursues not a short joyous, she wants someone who can respect and understand her, cherish each other’s love. But in the end, all she gets are cheating, deal, and is left. In this feudalism community, she gives up her dream, finally, she chose suicide to fight. That is the moral message that the author shows us.
References
Feng Meng-Long and Lang-Xian Du Tenth Sinks the Jewelry Box in Anger.