The Shrew: Sharp Tongued T Ui-Lien

The short story, The Shrew: Sharp Tongued Ts’ui-lien is a comical piece about conformity and societal expectations. Within the story we are introduced to a young woman with the disposition to talk relentlessly, and with a need to have all of her ideas heard. However, the societal expectations are stifling and are focused on obedience of tradition and decency. Through comedy, Ts’ui-lien upsets the balance and need to remove herself from society completely as the only viable solution for others to deal with her strong personality, the only solution that allow her to remain unchanged and unconfirmed to the demands of the society. Through this, the story’s position on the place of societal norms in this culture become clear, fall in line or remove

Whereas Ts’ui-lien herself in an upset to the traditions, she blatantly shows she does not respect these ideals placed upon her and wants to be able to express herself freely and do as she pleases. The first example of her upsetting what is expected of her is when her Father, Li Lucky, says “Our daughter is faultless in most respects; only her tongue is quick and you and I cannot be easy about it” (Anonymous 873). From here Ts’ui-Liens parents go on to say, “We were grieving even because your tongue is sharp as a blade. We feared when you entered your husbands’ house you might talk too much and offend against the proprieties and thus incur the displeasure of your parents in law and everyone else, and become a laughing stock” (Anonymous 874). Within these two passages, Ts’ui-Lien is presented to the reader as adhering to many ideals except for her inability to remain quiet. The story is telling the reader that in order to fit into society one must fulfill all societal norms they could become ostracized. Ts’ui-Lien seems to care not that she could be ostracized, and even feels that because she is so well versed in other societal and wifely duties, that she would easily please her potential mother and father and law and besides her familial tasks, “nought matters more than a fart” (Anonymous 874).

The tone of the story, though comical at times, suggests that someone who cannot conform will not be able to make-due and fit into society. The purpose of these norms is then to hold the family structures together, to bring harmony between people, and when that can’t be followed the only option becomes departure. Though harsh, it is considerably a positive ending, the families have other children to take care of them, Ts’ui-lien’s ex-husband can find a new wife, and Ts’ui lien can find contentment and fulfillment as a Buddhist nun. It may not be the most expected happily ever after, but nothing about Ts’ui-lien was ever quite