In “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger,” Tenth is loyal towards young master Li. When she argues with the madam, “Master Li didn’t show up empty-handed. He’s spent big money,” Tenth persuades her on how much money Li had spent already for the past year. Even when she knows that he has no riches left anymore, she is still devoted to stay by his side. “I will take care of half of the three hundred, and you can take care of the other half.” By giving Li her private savings, it’s a solid confirmation that she is trying to stay by Li’s side. Only until the end of the story with Li’s betrayal, does Tenth give up on their relationship.
Similar to “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger,” Saikaku’s narrator shows loyalty as well. Even though the narrator had slept with different men consistently over the span of her lifetime, she had a few instances where she stayed with the man until he passes away due to poor health. Only then, she will move on to another man.
1 response so far ↓
JMERLE // Sep 19th 2015 at 4:25 pm
Bo,
Your focus of loyalty, for both women, is an important one, and might also be an interesting thesis for your essay. Work, however, to go more deeply into the text. In other words, try to find quotes that show more insightful character traits.
8/10/