Chapter 3 opens with the women of the family coming for Ailin to bind her feet. She is in school when they come for her so she hides in the bushes until they are finished looking for her. She is then sent to her grandmother who scolds her for not yet having her feet bound. It is clear the other characters have great concern for Ailin's future as a woman and as a wife. The grandmother convinces Ailin to have her feet bound and the others proceed in the necessary steps to have the work done. After her feet are wrapped someone says she will have to learn how to walk again. This upsets Ailin and she reacts in a frenzy, trying desperately to escape and get away. The adults contemplate tying her down but her father steps in and allows Ailin to not have her feet bound. This upsets the women in the family but the father silences all of them.
In chapter 4, the chaos that had ended in chapter 3 has seemingly died down, however everyone's displeasure and concern for Ailin is still apparent. She speaks of the changes in government into a republic and the debates her father and uncle share over these changes. Her father decides to enroll Ailin into a public school which angers the elders in the family. Before she is accepted into the public school she must pass a few tests. Her first impressions of the people are very interesting and the first thing she looks at in the woman are their feet. She gets accepted into the school and excels in speech classes as she has a speciality in hearing and repeating sounds. The chapter does not end on an optimistic note, rather it points out that Ailin's grandmother is getting weaker and weaker.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monique Brown Summarizer for Discussion 1
Summary Chapters 1-2
The first 2 chapters basically give us a somewhat foundation for the story. It talks of the main character's, Ailin's, childhood and gives us an introduction into Chinese tradition and their outlook on women at the the time. Ailin is raised in a time period where women in China are supposed to be modest, quiet and basically serene. This is displayed as Ailin's "amah" and grandmother frown upon her childlike, rambunctious personality.
As we get into the story we realize that Ailin is up for an arranged marriage, but what is hindering her is that her feet have yet to be bound. All the women in Ailin's family (and if you are of upper class) have had their feet bound. From just these two chapters it is possible to understand the ultimate situation in the story, Ailin refuses to have her feet bound.
Her older sister shows Ailin her bound feet and we soon learn how painful the "womanly" duty is. They smell awful and resemble folded pieces of bread, as The author describes. It is also why the women are slower, modest and try to remain still. When it is Ailin's turn, she runs away, but then returns home where her sister is being reprimanded for showing her her bound feet. That's where this section concluded.
In addition, we learn that western culture is being introduced as well. Ailin's dad has different views on foot binding, arranged marriages and such traditional ideas. Also we see how children (boys) are being schooled by foreigners; traditionally they are home-schooled.
Overall we are able to see the importances in culture, social class and gender roles in the first few chapters.
Posted by moe brown at 3:39 PM 0 comments
As we get into the story we realize that Ailin is up for an arranged marriage, but what is hindering her is that her feet have yet to be bound. All the women in Ailin's family (and if you are of upper class) have had their feet bound. From just these two chapters it is possible to understand the ultimate situation in the story, Ailin refuses to have her feet bound.
Her older sister shows Ailin her bound feet and we soon learn how painful the "womanly" duty is. They smell awful and resemble folded pieces of bread, as The author describes. It is also why the women are slower, modest and try to remain still. When it is Ailin's turn, she runs away, but then returns home where her sister is being reprimanded for showing her her bound feet. That's where this section concluded.
In addition, we learn that western culture is being introduced as well. Ailin's dad has different views on foot binding, arranged marriages and such traditional ideas. Also we see how children (boys) are being schooled by foreigners; traditionally they are home-schooled.
Overall we are able to see the importances in culture, social class and gender roles in the first few chapters.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Ties that break ties that bind
I thought the book was very well written. It kept my attention the only flaw was the short length of the chapters. I was amazed at how rebellious Ailin was and her attitude type which was drastically different from her sisters and family. Girls of the time were not suppose to go against generation old gender roles and traditions and she did just that. I can tell she is going to make the story more interesting with her open-mindedness to western culture and curiosity for the world and why things are the way they are.
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