great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

In both Feng Menglong’s, “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger,” and Saikaku’s narrative, Life of a Sensuous Woman, there are women that have an effect in men’s lives. In Menglong’s story, Du Tenth, a prostitute, finds the love of her life, Li Jia, and they decide that they would be together. Du Tenth’s madam did not like Li because he would take up all of Du Tenth’s time and he had run out of money so he wasn’t able to pay for services. Madam tells Du Tenth, “You go tell the bum: if he’s worth anything let him give me a few ounces of silver and buy you out so you can go off with him. Then I can find another girl that can support me” (Menglong 502). When Li goes and tries to get the money he comes to Du Tenth empty handed. Du Tenth has to give him her savings, half of the money he needed, to help him out. Du Tenth then helps again later when he says that he has no money for traveling expenses and uses some of the things she has in her stationary box to help cover expenses. Li thanks her for all that she has done when he says, “If I had not encountered you, my dear benefactress, I, Li Jia, I would not have been left without even a place to be buried. I will never dare to forget this debt of gratitude as long as I live” (Menglong 508). Li referring to her as a “benefactress” shows how much she really helped him with money and saved him. In Saikaku’s narrative, the narrator also helped men in her life. In the beginning of the story she is approached by two men. They are seeking answers in their lives and come to her for help. One man says, “Neither of us understands the way of sensuous love deeply enough yet” (Saikaku 594). They then ask her to share her stories about the experiences that she has had. She ends up helping these men by teaching them more about life and the world. As you can see both characters contributed to the lives of these men and had a great effect on them.