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The New Year’s Sacrifice by Lu Xun is a story about the unfortunates and discrimination against a woman, which is being referred to as Xiang Lin’s wife. Xing Lin’s wife is married twice. After her first husband died, she is forced by her family to remarry for their own capital gain. Later on, her second husband dies and her son is killed by a wolf. Because of the Chinese tradition, she is being looked down upon because she is married twice. Also, as we know, men are considered more important during that time period. They go to work and the women usually stays home. However, both of her husbands died after they married her. The son died later on as well. She is then given the name of a very “unlucky” person that will bring bad luck to all persons around her. Therefore, this gave another reason for people in her area to disrespect her.

People in the Chinese culture are often constrained by these many old traditions, especially during the old time periods. In the story, people disrespect her because she broke the rules and did what they think is unacceptable. Yet, they didn’t stand in her position trying to understand that she was being forced. It is her family who wants to break the tradition. Additionally, people are trying to blame her for the deaths of her husbands and son. Conversely, if it was the man who is being remarried, and if it was the wives who died, would the people in that area still confess the same thoughts? Women shouldn’t be looked down upon because we have the same rights as men. Lastly, I think not all traditions should be followed. Traditions are just traditions, sometimes we should abandon some of them and do what we think is the best for us. No one should be a sacrifice of a tradition.

https://youtu.be/_9Eid3m80D0

In Oroonoko, the main themes carried throughout the story are inequality and slavery. As mentioned in the video, Oroonoko falls in love with Imoinda. However, at the same time, his grandfather, the king, wants to marry Imoinda, too. Even though Oroonoko is the prince, the king is still superior than him. Therefore, Imoinda has no other choice except to obey what the king says. Later on, when the king finds out Imoinda is not a virgin anymore, he decides to sell her into slavery. He then tells Oroonoko that he killed Imoinda since he worries about the military on Oroonoko’s hand. Because of the pain that Oroonoko endures, he decides to go on a military expedition. Oroonoko then meets a sea captain and is sold into slavery. When he reached the colony, he surprisingly meets Imoinda knowing that she is not dead. Although they were not treated poorly by their owner, they still did many things trying to free all the other slaves. Many slaves joined them at first, yet, they betrayed him at the end because they are afraid of the situation that they are in. In the end of the story, he was cut into pieces as a consequence of what he did and as a warning for the other slaves to see. If the king didn’t abuse his power trying to steal his grandson’s lover, Oroonoko may not need to go through this kind of tragedy such as being sold into slavery and cut into pieces apart. If people can stand up earlier to fight against the unfairness they were given, less people might suffer and die. I think the significance of this story is to tell everyone the darkness of slavery and the road to obtain equality is often washed by blood.

As the author in the video states, the main theme carried throughout Frankenstein is that our environment and our experiences really shaped the people that we become. I agree with her because it is indeed true that that the monster didn’t really mean to be a monster at first. It was the hate and abandonment from people around him that caused him to be a real monster. He was mentally a baby where he has to start learning new things by himself since his creator, Victor Frankenstein, didn’t help him in any ways. Just like babies, they want to be loved by their parents or everybody around them. Yet, everyone he encounters hated and despised him which ultimately made him want to revenge.

I think many people in this book should take responsibility. Frankenstein himself created this monster because of his interest. However, he left him alone and didn’t take any responsibility. Therefore, his selfishness destroyed his family and himself. People who encountered the monster should also take responsibility. If they can be understanding and accepting, if they can judge less, then tragedies won’t happen.

Lastly, one interesting saying I found from the video is that the monster in this book may represent us, the human, in some ways. We all may have some ugly sides and when we reveal it to the outside world, they might not be accepted by people around us. In addition, we are different because we come from different places around the world. Some are racist and some are just not accepting. If everyone can be understanding, accepting, and kind, the world would contain less hatred and harm.

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