Raise the red lantern by zhang yimou dissertation

Enhance the Red Lantern (1991) directed by Zhang Yimou was based on a novel named Wives and Concubines by Su Tong. This film takes place in the early 1900s which explains to the story of your woman known as Songlian (played by Gong Li) who was struck by harshness of reality. Her father died during the China Civil Battle when the girl was 19. Facing the death of her father and the intensity of the friends and family financial situation, the girl was playing no choice but to marry the wealthy Chen family.

Upon arrival for the Chen’s house, Songlian was greeted with open arms and was treated like royalty. The girl later came to the understanding that it was just a mere fantasy as she experience more of the traditions and rules set by the Expert Chen. The Master provides four mistress, Songlian getting the fourth, and all was in competition with one another to get the masters affection and attention. Every single mistress offers her very own quarter in the castle and her personal servant.

The program on a daily basis was going to stands facing their sectors and is justa round the corner the Master’s decision on his sexual requirements. Once his decision is done, the 1 / 4 of the mistress chosen was lit up with red lanterns. For that day, the chosen mistress is usually rewarded with foot therapeutic massage, meal of her choice, and the respect of all the servants in the real estate. At first glance, Songlian finds Zhuoyun, the Second Mistress, to be relying and kind. The lady laters found that Zhuoyun was said to “have a face of the Juggernaut, but the center of a scorpion.  Songlian, yearning on her behalf husband devotion, decides to fake her own motherhood. Yan’er backstabbed Songlian by simply revealing the bloodstain undergarment to Zhuoyun. Feigning her concern pertaining to Songlian’s pregnancy, the second mistress requested the family doctor to measure Songlina’s state.

Infuriated by simply Songlian’s deception, the master ordered every one of the red lantern in her quarters to be covered by a black painting. As a great act of revenge, Songlian revealed Yan’er secret passion with the grasp and bought all the reddish colored lantern in Yan’er’s space to be burned. Yan’er’s refusal to apologize to Songlian kneel through the night which sooner or later led to her death. During Songlian’s birthday, she drunkenly professes the Meishan, third mistress, affairs with the family doctor. Being sneaky as she is, Zhuoyun found the third mistress and the doctor in the act of adultry. As treatment for infidelity, Meishan was hanged. This summer, the master get married to yet another soupirant. At this point, Songlian has finally went entirely insane and was just wandering around in her own quarters.

In order for this film being called a Time-honored Hollywood Story, it must sticks to to the four simple stages in which this kind of narrative composes. First stage, the main character, is established clearly at the beginning uncovering his/her strengths and imperfections. This film adhere to the first stage in which this did discloses who is the primary protagonist with the very beginning. However , it is very hard to determine whether Songlian is in reality a hero from this film. At the beginning, it would shows that her motive is very admirable in accepting her fate in order to save her relatives from low income. As the storyline progresses, i believe, she is reveal to be fragile and unforgiving. Her weak point shows in her selfishness as the girl yearn intended for affection and attention. Her unforgiveness reveals when after her deception was uncover in her pregnancy.

The girl became extremely vengeful and it triggers the fatality of Yan’er and Meishan. For those reason, it is hard for me to consider her only being a protagonist. Rather, I see her as protagonist with the unfavorable traits of an antagonist. Second stage, the goal, is established for the protagonist to pursue. In this instance, Songlian’s target is to become a concubine into a wealthy friends and family to save her family by poverty. The achievements of this objective is very simplistic. Although her long term goal is unclear, the sense of belonging is very obvious. Clearly Songlian did not wish to live a life like a concubine. Your woman does fit in here, but her fortune is unavoidable.

Third stage, the obstacle, can be set up as the lifestyle of the concubines and upholding the customs and rules set by the master of the home. Unlike most obstacles which has a clear time frame of quality, the obstacle in this film appears to be endless. Final stage, the achievement, is established if the protagonist finally achieve his or her goals and overcome the obstacle with great accomplishment. Unlike Traditional Hollywood Narrative, the stopping to this film left the protagonist’s challenges unresolve and distraught. The lady just went insane and became mentally sick at the end. That is a complete inability for a main character of a narrative. I believe an easier way to become successful in this film’s obstacles would be death because it is the only get away for the fate a concubine.

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