Valuing The Beauty Of The 'Jade Flower Palace'

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Valuing the Beauty of the “Jade Flower Palace” Beauty has been known to be one of the most subjective concepts in existence, yet Tu Fu, a renowned Chinese poet from the eighth century, writes so vibrantly that not many disagree with him. During his lifetime, Fu’s familiarity with both wealth and poverty showed the lack of importance money had on his world. Fu instead wrote about the elegance of the natural world and eventually humanitarianism, often commenting on beauty and its ability to go unnoticed. The poem “Jade Flower Palace” brings the latter to life, tying the allure of nature in with the passage of time. Tu Fu uses descriptive imagery to make “Jade Flower Palace” a vividly evocative poem about loss over the years. One of the reasons “Jade Flower Palace” is so effective is its multiple meanings. On the surface, Tu Fu makes observations about what he sees in the ruins of what was once a grandiose palace. However, it soon becomes clear to the reader that Tu Fu has a deeper message. Fu’s description of what he imagines life to have been like displays his remorse, proving that he believes the palace was not appreciated in its time. Each meaning combines to demonstrate the fact that Tu Fu wishes beauty would be valued …show more content…

The way Fu speaks of “standing in / Ruins” (4-5) shows his regret and almost apologeticness for allowing the palace to decompose. Fu focuses heavily on what once might have been, and how it has fallen since, especially when describing the dancing girls and how “their painted cheeks have crumbled / Away” (12-13). The toll this sadness has taken on Tu Fu is most strongly evident when he admits that “the pathos of / It overcomes [the speaker]” (17-18). With the depressing line, “the future / Slips imperceptibly away,” (18-19) Tu Fu drags readers to the same dark place in his mind from which he writes, simply using his tone and word choice to deliver his final

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