Ha Jin's Decision Marriage In Good Country People

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When facing the reality of their mortality, people often panic and make impetuous actions. Hong, from Taking a Husband by Ha Jin, is forced into a decision marriage as a result of her father’s death. The death of Hong’s father signifies that she would be her family’s last hope to rise from poverty and come to power. Under the pressure of time, Hong must decide who to marry in order to gain power bring prestige to her family. Hulga, from Good Country People by Flannery O’Connor, would try to find freedom with her already shortened lifespan. Desperate to be freed from the chains of her mother, Hulga must decide whether her mortality is enough to convince her to go on a date with a stranger. While the constraint on time forces Hong to take a husband by chance with lots, it also contributes to Hulga’s impulsive decision to go out with a complete stranger. …show more content…

Before her father’s death, Hong had lived a comfortable life, as her father held a position of power. However, “After her father died of bone cancer, life was hard for the Chens. [...] By now, both the mother and daughter had experienced the difficulty and humiliation caused by lacking power in their own hands. (Jin 560)” Along with the hardships after her father’s death came the realization of Hong’s purpose in life―to elevate her family’s place and prestige in society. Blinded by her pursuit for power, Hong would eventually find herself at a standpoint, suddenly having to choose a husband and marry for power. Facing a deadline for her choice, Hong picked her husband through lots, as she did have love for any of her suitors. As did Hong, Hulga would also fail to properly set out her life due to the restraint of

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