Essay Questions

What is the place and role of a woman in the traditional society in which the writer’s aunt is born?

Women have a very distinctive role in traditional Chinese society in which the narrator’s aunt, Chang Yu-I is born. Held by rather oppressive and absurd traditional practices, the woman's role is immensely pleasuring the man. This role is suggested by the traditional practice in which women have to bind their feet to impress men or for their amusement. The constrained ideologies held by this society are thus made apparent.

How is change as an idea brought out in this memoir?

Despite being born in a strictly traditional Chinese family, the narrator’s aunt, Chang Yu-i, rejects the traditional practice of binding young girls' feet because the men found out impressive. After she gets married to Hsu Chi-mo without a shred of love for him, Chang Yu-i takes on her role as a woman. However, when she has enough of his abuses, she demands a divorce for which he obliges. Chang Yu-i becomes a force to reckon with in this society as she faces the scorn following her divorce. She is indeed a symbol of change in this society as she rejects the ideas that were traditionally considered a norm or taboo.

Explain the character trait of Chang Yu-i as presented in this work?

A dominant character trait that Chang Yu-i exhibits is rebellion. Despite being born into a traditional family, she refuses and stands against the idea of having the feet of young girls tied up as per the custom. Additionally, she stands against her husband's oppressive and unpredictable character when she asks him for a divorce. Chang becomes a rebel in the society in which this work is set. Additionally, Chang Yu-i can be argued as carefree. After getting the divorce from Hsu Chi-mo, she does not care about being treated with scorn.