Wild Swans, by Jung Chang Essay - 1123 Words

Wild Swans, by Jung Chang The Chinese people have experienced rapid change, in government and culture in the 20th century. Although the common people seemed to have risen up against oppression from the ruling class, liberty and equality often remains out of their grasp. For centuries the dynastic cycle has dominated the culture and collective consciousness of the Chinese people. This process is characterized by unification, followed by prosperity and success, followed by corruption and instability, and finally rebellion and overthrow. This gives way to a new dynasty that was said to have received the mandate of heaven. This cycle, in some ways, ended with the fall of the Qing dynasty. This marked the end of over 2000 years of†¦show more content†¦She was born to parents whose marriage had been arranged, they were probably never in love, neither before, nor after the wedding. Yu-fangs mother was not even given a name, and her husband was 6 years younger than her and only a boy of fourteen at t he time of their marriage. She was expected to help raise her husband which was expected of a Chinese bride. Yu-fangs feet were bound when she was the age of two. This was done by her own mother, and was an extremely painful process. Jung Chang said, My Grandmother screamed in agony and begged her to stop. Her mother had to stick a cloth into her mouth to gag her. My grandmother passed out repeatedly from the pain. (24) This painful tradition is one of the worst examples mistreatment of women that was considered a necessity. Yu- fang was born in 1909. This was near the end of the Manchu Empire, which had been ruling the nation for over 260 years. This was also a time when threat of Japanese invasion was a constant reality in the region of Manchuria, which is where Yixian, the familys hometown, was located. Yu-fang became a concubine to an official to th e Metropolitan Police of the Warlord government of Peking. Her father arranged for Yu-fang and General Xue to meet (making it seem accidental to preserve his family honor) and received a considerableShow MoreRelatedWild Swans By Jung Chang2008 Words   |  9 PagesJung Chang’s Wild Swans combines a first person narrative and real historical events to create a story that is both compelling and informative. Though the author tells different tales in the three parts of the book, the themes of violence, oppression, and abuse of power remain static throughout. In retelling stories from three generations, Chang depicts the hardships faced by citizens of opposite genders and different ages in twentieth-century Communist China. Through the author’s vivid details,Read MoreAnalysis Of The Book Wild Swans By Jung Chang Essay1423 Words   |  6 PagesFamily loyalty in China has had a tumultuous past filled with fluctuation between remaining loyal to the state, yet also remain ing loyal to blood relatives. In the autobiography that also serves as a biography, Wild Swans, by Jung Chang, this is seen. The book, which outlines the biographies of the author’s grandmother and mother, as well as her own autobiography, gives an interesting look into the lives of the Chinese throughout the 20th century. This book is beyond eye opening, and is trulyRead MoreWild Swans : Three Daughters Of China By Jung Chang1633 Words   |  7 PagesMichael Accurso The book, Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang, is a intimate memoir and a piece of history that shows life through generations. This book shows us the change and evolution of China through the lives of three women. 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Jung Chang begins the story with the life of her grandmother who was a warlord’s concubine, her mother’s life as the wife of a communist party leader, and her coming of age during the Cultural RevolutionRead MoreThe Book Of Wild Swans : Three Daughter Of China1234 Words   |  5 PagesQuyen Nguyen IB World History 11th Grade In the book of Wild Swans: Three daughter of China by Jung Chang tells about the experiences of the life of Chang’s Mother, Grandmother, and Chang herself. The book starts off with Chang’s Grandmother Yu-fang. She was forced to be a concubine for a warlord general at a young age. She eventually escapes with her child after marrying a wealthy doctor, she continue to raise her child even rejected by her husband’s family. De-hong a happy girl whoRead MoreWomen s Attitudes Towards Women1538 Words   |  7 PagesWomen in China: An Exploration of Women in Chinese Society as told through Wild Swans The Chinese have long been noted for the objectification and discrimination of women in their society. From foot binding, to paying for brides, to the view of women as second-class citizens, the Chinese have maintained a poor relationship in the way they treat women. Wild Swans examines China’s attitudes towards women by demonstrating the different social, political, and moral standards her (Chang’s) mother,Read MoreAnalysis Of Ung Chang s Wild Swans1072 Words   |  5 Pagesung Chang’s Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China follows three generations of woman in China through live and political struggles. China’s transformation between 1910s and 1970s, was one of radical change and caused great suffering. The importance of Chang’s book is its in a women s point of view by showing the suffering and healing that occurred and to educate about the history of China through the Warlord, Japanese, and Mao rule. The book is laid out through three generations: grandma, mom,Read MoreBook Review Wild Swans3272 Words   |  14 PagesBook Review Author: Jung Chang Title: Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China Publication: Simon and Schuster, London, 1991 1. Main Thesis In Wild Swans, Jung Chang describes the life of three generations of woman in her family. Beginning in the year 1909 and ending in present time, it gives an insight into almost eighty years of the cultural history of China. Jung Chang has said in a interview that her intention in writing Wild Swans was to show how the Chinese people, and in particular the womenRead MoreWild Swans by Jun Chang1108 Words   |  5 Pages Jung Chang is a Chinese-born British writer that is known for her award-winning book, Wild Swans. After having several jobs at a young age, Jung Chang became an English-language student, and an assistant lecturer at Sichuan University. In 1978, Chang left China for Britain, where the University of York awarded her a scholarship. At the university, she acquired a Ph.D. in linguistics in 1982. Interestingly, Chang was the first person from the People’s Republic of China to obtain a doctorate fromRead MoreWild Swans : Three Daughters Of China1153 Words   |  5 PagesWild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang provides a thoughtful and beautifully painful chronology of three generations of women through some of China’s harshest periods in history. This book review will proceed in two parts. The first will address the significant themes present in Chang’s novel. The second will go beyond literary analysis and delve into identifying the author’s own bi as, and comment on the structure and perspective of Chang herself. This review will overview the themes