but that is only a vehicle used to stimulate enlightenment through love. In the novel, Zhen Shiyin and Jia Zheng both become enlightened through their deep-rooted love for their children. However, characters such as Adamantina and Jia Jing illustrate contrasts to them. Neither of these characters attempt to achieve enlightenment through love, but instead study Buddhist and Daoist scriptures. Jia Jing's death is an ineffective message since his character is for the most part outside of the novel's
ꀀ ꀀine a world of unequal social status. Envision a world where customs are different, whether that is through family or political standpoints. In America, in today’s day and age, every human being despite their gender is supposed to be seen as equal. In our modern world, gender equality is beginning to prevail, and men and women are looked at on the same level. However, there are still flaws in our society. Some of these flaws are exemplified through Cao Xuequin’s novel The Story of the Stone:
In his 2006 film, Still Life, Jia Zhangke creates an enigmatic case study of alienation and displacement. Through the use of space, both literal and figurative, and long, extended takes that expand the perception of time Zhangke tells the story of a people who are victims of their own environment. What is perhaps most striking of the film, beyond even the existential and political undertones, is the division drawn between the cold and demonstrative attitude the government adopts towards its citizens
Universe tries to Cure It” Carl Forsthoefel On the very first page of The Dream of Red Chamber the author tells us of a stone which was cast away by the goddess Nuwa for being unworthy of repairing the sky. This stone is the ethereal representation of Baoyu, and is abandoned in a place called Greensickness Peak, located in the Incredible Crags of the Great Fable Mountains. Many people have studied the symbolic meaning of this peak and I read one in the first week of the semester that I feel is likely
teachings are critically important and therefore must be learnt by the main characters of Baoyu and Daiyu. The story is incredibly constructed and the path to enlightenment lies parallel and sometimes even crosses the path of errors. The story attempts to teach that the truths in life can not be discovered until many mistakes are done and learned from. The two characters that exemplify romantic love are Baoyu and Daiyu. They are both born into an unusual circumstance of extreme wealth. The environment
West. Its central story is that of boy, Jia Baoyu, growing up in feudal China. He lives a privileged life — the Jia family is by no means impoverished — and is attended on by maids as he spends his days with his cousins and friends. Throughout the novel, however, there exists a thread of rebellion on Baoyu’s part. He spurns many of the societal norms of his culture and parents through his acceptance of taboo subjects and rejection of what’s expected of him. Baoyu even attempts to fight his fate throughout
The book criticizes the feudal system through the two main characters, Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu. Since Baoyu is the grandson of the most important person at Jia’s family, who in charge of Jia’s family, Baoyu was born with a high expectation. He grows up under the care of a group of naive maid, which has influenced him being more wild and free. He knows clearly what to love and what to hate. Daiyu has quite background with Baoyu. She moves into Jia’s mansion after her parents’ death. Although her grandmother
them a relatable couple. Likewise, Cao Xueqin, author of Hong Lou Meng, builds sympathy for his protagonist Jia Baoyu by giving him a divine, prophetic birth (he is born with the jade of spiritual understanding in his mouth; jade is considered very fortuitous in China). Cao also romanticizes Jia’s love, Lin Daiyu, stating that she is the reincarnation of a flower, reborn mortal to repay Jia with tears for watering her in her previous life. (It’s probably the most romantic reincarnation ever!) Don’t