How are courtesans represented in the story? Why do you think Feng Menglong chooses to depict them this way?
Courtesans are represented in the story as beautiful, yet shameful and immoral. Another representation of how courtesans are depicted in the story is that they are more for lust rather than love. This is because in the story Li Jia comes from a noble family, so he is aware that bringing home Du Tenth, a courtesan, would enrage his father. For that reason, Li Jia has a hard time coming up with a plan as to how he would eventually introduce Du Tenth to his family and live a happy life together as husband and wife. Additionally, Li Jia constantly refers to Du Tenth as a whore and is aware of the bad reception he will receive from his noble family, which would then jeopardize his ability to inherit his family’s fortune. I think Feng Menglong chooses to depict them as immoral to demonstrate that although society may view certain people as “immoral” those people tend to be the most honest and ethical people. I say this, because at the end of the story Li Jia essentially betrays Du Tenth for money, however Du Tenth told him her intentions were good and she had saved up 10 times the money he received for their future. This ending shows that Du Tenth, the courtesan, had more loyalty and morale than Li Jia, thus breaking the stereotypes of courtesans that were told throughout the story.
It may be that society in general has a low opinion of prostitutes, but the courtesans in this story seem to be depicted as quite loyal and honorable. This is true not just of Du Tenth, but of the rest of the courtesans as well.