The importance of traditions in Eastern Literature
“Sealed off” -Zhang Ailing 1943
“Man of La Mancha” -Chu T’Ien-Hsin 1994
This week’s theme in our readings was modernization. The readings are from the 19th and 20th century. They are influential stories for Eastern literature as they began to exude Western Literature characteristics. “Diary of a Madman” was China’s first modern short story. All of the stories make the reader question how societies expectations can be demanding. It can drive people to do things that normally would never have done, or are they just following what they were always meant to do before society created pressure?
STUDENT GROUP INSTRUCTION:
Arrange desk in a circle for students and then sit in the middle of the circle for the reading of the passages for each story. This promotes the group setting and the students are facing each other.
“Sealed Off” by Zhang Ailing 1943
Sealed Off is a Chinese short story that takes place in Shanghai during World War II. Wu Cuiyuan is a young female English instructor who feels a void in her life. Lu Zongzhen is a married accountant with kids. They find themselves stuck in a tram car together and Zongzhen attempts to avoid his cousin and falls into the seat beside Cuiyuan. Cuiyuan is desperate to feel understood and listened to on the same level as a man would. Zongzhen and Cuiyuan engage in a flirtatious banter and Cuiyuan is entranced that he actually notices her. During this time period there was strong familial expectations and tradition placed on people. Both main characters feel resent towards their lives and current situations. A pop culture comparison could be made to the movie “Before We Go” starring Chris Evans. The movie is about two people meeting by chance encounter and they get stuck together for the evening in Manhattan. The main female character is married but finds herself and the male main character enjoying the time they have together. The story parallels “Sealed Off” in the sense that they were both chance encounters that led the characters to one another and they both feel pressure from society or the people in their lives to live a certain way.
Ask students after watching this video… “Are decisions being made in “Sealed Off” that could alter the rest of their lives? Does societies expectations determine the magnitude of choices?”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS for after the first passage.
Ask students these three questions and go around the circle to make sure every student has given their take on atleast one question by raising their hand and sharing with the class.
- Do Zongzhen and Cuiyuan feel resentment because of the monotonous feel of their lives?
- Chinese traditions were very prevalent during this time period, breaking away from those traditions would be frowned upon. Did both characters feel they had something to lose if they broke away?
- Do you think Zongzhen would have talked to Cuiyuan had he not been trying to avoid his cousin? Was the meeting of the two inevitable?
“Man of LaMancha” – Chu T’Ien-Hsin 1994
“Man of LaMancha” is a story that shows a clear difference in the times. Its much more modernized based on its descriptions of the narrators surroundings. There is also a theme of powerlessness that can be found in the story felt by the narrator. He has no control of his inevitable death and he fears he will not be able to ever see it coming. The story can be compared to our first week’s readings such as “The Guest” by Albert Camus because of the lack of control he has over his fate. A pop culture reference could be the movie “5 feet apart” because it tells a story of two teen’s with cystic fibrosis that also do not have any control of their lives and how their lives may end. There is a sense of time running out in the story that leads the characters to make decisions. “Man of LaMancha” is similar in that sense of the narrator being terrified he has not had enough time to make something of himself and meet societies expectations. Does it matter what we have done or have on us when we pass? Has society created false expectations for how one should live their life?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS for after reading of the passage.
- Do you think the narrator would have less anxiety about the imminent doom he feels if he knew when he was going to die or just pass out?
- The narrator places his worth in his identification cards and what would be found on him when he passes, do you agree with him that those things equate to worth?
- What differences do you see with “Man of LaMancha” and “Sealed Off” as far as how times have become more modernized?
FINAL ASSIGNMENT (CHOICE OF TWO OPTIONS)
After both stories have been read and videos have been watched (may take a couple days to get through this weeks content) ..
Assign the students two paper options based on which story they pick.
Option one:
WRITE A PAPER
Write an alternate ending for the story “Sealed Off” and write it as if the scene between the two main characters was not a dream for Cuiyuan. The story must contain a good understanding of Chinese traditions and consequences for breaking away from their traditions.
Option two:
CREATE A ID CARD
Write a short biography of yourself based on your accomplishments and then create a ID card that reflects your choices in life. Once ID card is made, write a few sentences for what someone could determine about you if you were found incapacitated. Make sure to include outfit choices and any other identification that could help someone determine who you were.
