Oroonoko by Aphra Behn

I was interested in the writer Aphra Behn reflects the view of pro-monarchy and a woman’s role in society throughout the 18th century. For example, Imoinda become one of the King wives even though she is reluctant. (1:21-1:50) As a woman living in the 21st century, it is difficult for me to understand Why marry a person you don’t like?

“The king, enraged at this delay, hastily demanded the name of the bold man that had married a woman of her degree without his consent. Imoinda, seeing his eyes fierce, and his hands tremble, whether with a age or anger, I know not, but she fancied the last, almost repented she had said so much, for now she feared the storm would fall on the prince; she therefore said a thousand things to appease the raging of his flame, and to prepare him to hear who it was with calmness; but before she spoke, he imagined who she meant, but would not seem to do so, but commanded her to lay aside her mantle and suffer herself to receive his caresses; or, by his gods, he swore, that happy man whom she was going to name should die, though it were even Oroonoko himself. ‘Therefore,’ said he, ‘deny this marriage, and swear thyself a maid.’ ‘That,’ replied Imoinda, ‘by all our powers I do, for I am not yet known to my husband.’ ‘Tis enough,’ said the king, ’tis enough to satisfy both my conscience, and my heart.’ And rising from his seat, he went and led her into the bath, it being in vain for her to resist.”

From the book, it is even more obvious that the level consciousness is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The upper layer imposes absolute domination on the lower layer, and women’s status is lower than that of men. It is precisely because there was inequality at that time, there is now equality. In fact, It’s not really all person are equal until today. Racial discrimination events often occur in certain places, and there is even a growing trend. The status of women in some parts of the world is still very low.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Human beings are very curious about this world, and humans benefit from continued discovery and exploration of the mysteries of the world. As mentioned in the novel：

 “The world was to [him] a secret which [he] desired to divine. Curiosity, earnest research to learn the hidden laws of nature, gladness akin to rapture, as they were unfolded to [him], are among the earliest sensations [he] can remember . . . It was the secrets of heaven and earth that [he] desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied [him], still [his] inquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or in it highest sense, the physical secrets of the world.”

（Chapter 2, pg. 22）

This is human instinct because we are born to think. However, people develop science must be based on two important points: objectivity and bound by human reason. Leaving these two points, the development of science will lead to the proliferation of scientism and bring unpredictable consequences. Frankenstein in the novel is obsessed with the pursuit of scientific knowledge, revealing the mystery of exploring nature, and driven by strong curiosity, but he lacks rational thinking about the consequences of his actions. With a moment of fanaticism, he made a man who made him regret. The story of Franklin reminds me of what Stephe Hawking once said, “The development of full artificial intelligence, could spell the end of the human race. In theory, computers can emulate human intelligence — and exceed it”. From the cloning of a few years ago to the current artificial intelligence, although there have been reminders that the fate of human demise may be caused by oneself, humans have never stopped because of this.

 

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

This is a very sad and ironic story, but the video shows a very comical appearance. Take it seriously, What do you think when you become Gregor one day?Or when your family members become Gregor, what is your attitude?I think it is normal that Gregor family’s first reaction was to be afraid, but what is not normal is that when the family is getting poorer, Gregor is gradually being regarded as a “monster”, and they are very happy when Gregor died in the ending. This is a part of the video that is not shown,and it is the saddest part of what I feel. 

Then all three left the apartment together, something they had not done for months now, and took the electric tram into the open air outside the city. The car in which they were sitting by themselves was totally engulfed by the warm sun. They talked to each other, leaning back comfortably in their seats, about future prospects, and they discovered that on closer observation these were not at all bad, for all three had employment, about which they had not really questioned each other at all, which was extremely favorable and with especially promising prospects. The greatest improvement in their situation at this moment, of course, had to come from a change of dwelling. Now they wanted to rent an apartment smaller and cheaper but better situated and generally more practical than the present one, which Gregor had found. While they amused themselves in this way, it struck Mr. and Mrs. Samsa almost at the same moment how their daughter, who was getting more animated all the time, had blossomed recently, in spite of all the troubles which had made her cheeks pale, into a beautiful and voluptuous young woman. Growing more silent and almost unconsciously understanding each other in their glances, they thought that the time was now at hand to seek out a good honest man for her. And it was something of a confirmation of their new dreams and good intentions when at the end of their journey the daughter first lifted herself up and stretched her young body.

Gregor’s family feels a great sense of relief after his dead, and they plan to have a trip and find a husband for Grete. We feel incredible but this situation often happens in real life. For example, a couple breaks up because the one has no money. Brotherhood kills each other because of their legacy. The aged become homeless people because of nobody are willing to take care of them. This is a money-oriented society. Regardless of family and friendship, money is really a test. Reality reveals the ugliness of human nature and does not change with the social form. As Marx described in the Communist Manifesto, “The bourgeoisie has torn away from the family its sentimental veil, and has reduced the family relation to a mere money relation.”

https://www.bilibili.com/video/av7061749?from=search&seid=11892711217945544100 

I read this book when I was a high school student. Now I reread this book again and I have different perceptions. I read the original Chinese one and I didn’t read the English translation, but I want to talk about the title of this book in different versions. The title is called “ New Year’s Sacrifice” in English translation, I guess because the woman Hsiang Lin’s Wife died in the Chinese new year and the translator may think she is a sacrifice and her dead is the result of feudal society’s ideological constraints on people. In the original Chinese version, the title is called “blessing” (literal translation). I prefer this title because two reasons, one is I guess the author thinks her death is a good thing, is a relief from bondage, so he bless her, and other one I think the author has the irony meaning,  because Chinese people greet one another with blessing when they meet during the Chinese New Year, but people never blessed her, they always laugh at her by using cold violence or language violence. For example, in the video people don’t want Hsiang Lin’s wife touch the sacrificial utensils because they think she is unlucky. （81:00－84:00）

When the time came for the ancestral sacrifice at the winter equinox, she worked harder than ever, and seeing my aunt take out the sacrificial utensils and with Ah Niu carry the table into the middle of the hall, she went confidently to fetch the winecups and chopsticks.

“Put those down, Hsiang Lin’s Wife!” my aunt called out hastily.

She withdrew her hand as if scorched, her face turned ashen-grey, and instead of fetching the candlesticks she just stood there dazed. Only when my uncle came to burn incense and told her to go, did she walk away. This time the change in her was very great, for the next day not only were her eyes sunken, but even her spirit seemed broken. Moreover she became very timid, not only afraid of the dark and shadows, but also of the sight of anyone. Even her own master or mistress made her look as frightened as a little mouse that has come out of its hole in the daytime. For the rest, she would sit stupidly, like a wooden statue. In less than half a year her hair began to turn grey, and her memory became much worse, reaching a point when she was constantly forgetting to go and prepare the rice.

“What has come over Hsiang Lin’s Wife? It would really have been better not to have kept her that time.” My aunt would sometimes speak like this in front of her, as if to warn her.

However, she remained this way, so that it was impossible to see any hope of her improving. They finally decided to get rid of her and tell her to go back to Old Mrs. Wei.

Many years ago, when I read this book, I think it is the traditional Chinese feudal cultural thought that led to Hsiang Lin’s Wife’s death. Hsiang Lin’s Wife’s husband and son are dead, so people think she is ominous and unlucky. Therefore, the employer is not willing to hire her. She may have starved to death because she has no income. Now I read this book, I think it is language violence that led to her death. No one sympathizes with her experience. They isolate and bullying her in words and even behavior. Her spirit has been hit and devastated. Hsiang Lin’s Wife’s experience is the same as the school bullying or cyberbullying that some people now encounter.