Du Tenth and the narrator of Saikaku’s From Life of a Sensuous Woman are both objectified women with different perspectives on love and pleasure. However, both women portray the idea of power over men when the men from their sexual relationships die. Du Tenth from Menglong’s “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger” is a prostitute, who commits to one man, Master Li. They were an inseparable couple with “Affection as deep as an unfathomed sea; loyalty as heavy as mountains, but higher” (501). The narrator of Saikaku’s narrative, however, does not devote to a single man because her sexual desires are impossible to satisfy and thus, she slept with more than ten thousand men. Eventually, theses sexual partners of the narrator face their downfalls as they collapse and die. Ultimately, Du Tenth is also treated as an object when Master Li chooses thousand taels of white silver and asides with his fear of his father’s opinion rather than standing up for Du Tenth. Master Li loses his lover and “oppressive feelings eventually drove him crazy, and he never recovered as long as he lived” (516). Master Li’s downfall, similar to the downfalls of the narrator’s men, represent punishments for men, who take women for granted and objectify women.
Assignment 2 – Rose Kim
September 18, 2015 Written by y.kim | 3 Comments
Categories: Uncategorized
3 responses so far ↓
k.garcia2 // Sep 18th 2015 at 3:12 pm
I understand what you have to say about these two women and their perspectives. Although, I believe the old woman would have devoted herself to one man if given the opportunity. The old women just kept on falling for the wrong men or they were killed. She just sleeps with many men trying to find the right one in my opinion. Du Tenth was with many men before Master Li and stopped bcause she fell in love. I believe it came down to Du tenth finding love while the old women didn’t.
k.vataj // Sep 18th 2015 at 10:01 pm
I think that both women suffered from heartbreak at the end of the story. The narrator in Saikaku’s story experienced an internal heartbreak from the choices that she made as a prostitute. I believe that she began to hate herself because she lived a lustful life and never got to experience what true love was. I think Du Tenth experienced heartbreak because she truly thought the love between her and Li Jia was strong. Unfortunately she was proved wrong and suffered a major betrayal. I don’t believe Li Jia’s love was that deep, if you are able to give someone up for money , the love is extremely fickle and weak.
JMERLE // Sep 19th 2015 at 4:56 pm
Rose,
This is an excellent response, and a very important focus, the objectifying of women and the responses (powerful, as you say) of both protagonists. This could be a very good focus for an essay, I think, if that interests you. 10/10.