Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger by Feng Menglong is a17th century piece where once again we see how money and society effect the lives of the characters.

Du Tenth and Li Jia fall in love, with one catch. They can’t be together unless they come up with money to buy Du Tenth from the courtesan house. This is where Li Jia finally shows his true colors. He was unable to come up with the money because his father made it clear that money was way more important then Du Tenth, and Li agreed. This shows not only the difference in class by showing how people look down on others, but it also brings money into it. Finally Du pays for half (showing she does have money) and raises the other half because of her love and blindness for Li.

At this point he then sells her to for some money. Betraying her love and showing that he does believe in his fathers thoughts and that’s just the way society was. This is when Du tenth obviously feels objectified and says, “In my jewel case there is true jade; I regret that you lack eyes in your head to see it” (pg. 516). Du tenth imagined her value would be recognized by Li Jia and therefore she would finally be accepted to live a life of a “decent” women.

This main underlying summary and distinct use of money once again in my opinion shows another broken down society in a literary 17th century piece. Menglong depicts it that way.

To begin my blog, I will like to discuss what I mean by the name of the site: 17th, 18th and 19th century Societal View vs Now

This book perfectly explains how a piece of literature from the 19th century can be compared to our society now, by the use of money. The author here, Herman Melville, uses this piece as a way to mock Wall Street and what it forces you to become. This is very similar to the world we live in today. This corrupt world that lives on money. Melville, shows how it was and still is all about capitalism. He mocks Wall Street by showing a charter who refuses to do more then what his job asks of him. His response would be, “I prefer not”, this was a subtle mock.

In my opinion, the fact that 150 years later it is still the same, it shows it may never change.

Stay tuned!