This essay I will be looking at, "A visit from the foot binder" written by Emily Prager and I will analyse closely the episode in the story where Lord Guo Guo comes back to
A Visit from the Foot Binder
Choose a particular episode in the story. Analyse it closely, commenting on how it relates to the story as a whole and on what you find interesting in the way it is written.
In this essay I will be looking at, "A visit from the foot binder" written by Emily Prager and I will analyse closely the episode in the story where Lord Guo Guo comes back to view and witness the expense Lady Guo Guo has gone to, to create her burial tomb. I aim to look at the way in which this episode has been written and relate it to the main themes and functions of this story.
Through reading this episode I believe that it signifies the portrayal of authority both sexes have over each other, and the different ways that each can influence one an other with it. It also bares some reference to the dependence of both sexes and how both rely on each other to achieve what they desire but the independence and stubbornness shown by Lady Guo Guo to attain what she requires.
From the beginning of this section we can observe the respect Lady Guo Guo holds for the Lord. We comprehend that this relationship is not one for love but of convenience as this is evident from the way they treat each other within the scene and especially noted from the way Lady Guo Guo approaches her husband on his arrival- "Lady Guo Guo bowed as did the entire crowd..." The use of the word 'bowed' shows the kind of authoritative figure Lord Guo Guo is and also likens Lady Guo Guo to the entire crowd I believe the purpose of this is to illustrate that Lady Guo Guo is considered as important as the entire crowd when compared to the Lord, the male. This is the appearance of the relationship from an external point of view.
After Lady Guo Guo has greeted the Lord, she appears to be very apprehensive at first, ""Let us climb the Belvedere," began Lady Guo Guo nervously,"- The use of the word 'nervously', creates the idea that Lady Guo Guo is anxious in the presence of her husband, perhaps because she knows she has spent his money lavishly on her burial tomb without consulting him. This adds to the amount of control we suspect Lord Guo Guo has over people and the interest they are supposed to show for him. He then follows her up the stairs; the use ...
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After Lady Guo Guo has greeted the Lord, she appears to be very apprehensive at first, ""Let us climb the Belvedere," began Lady Guo Guo nervously,"- The use of the word 'nervously', creates the idea that Lady Guo Guo is anxious in the presence of her husband, perhaps because she knows she has spent his money lavishly on her burial tomb without consulting him. This adds to the amount of control we suspect Lord Guo Guo has over people and the interest they are supposed to show for him. He then follows her up the stairs; the use of the word 'hurried', to describe the way Lady Guo Guo moves further confirms the idea that she is uncertainly anticipating Lord Guo Guo and his decisions.
As Lord Guo Guo seeks interest in Lady Guo Guo's tomb, shetakes advantage of this attention and begins to shows signs of control as she has the power to dominate within this situation, this allows her to become more assertive and aggressive towards the Lord. ""No," snapped the Lady," 'snapped' expressing the aggressive conduct shown towards the Lord. The use of the word 'fled', to show how she moved, to me suggests a very overdramatic motion as if to seek more attention from the Lord.
However, as she has fled to the top of the stairs, Lord Guo Guo persists to carve his name into Lady Guo Guo's belvedere. I believe this is a very symbolic moment in the story; the idea of the marking of this belvedere to clearly signify the ownership, portrays the idea of marking the women of this story, via the physical act of foot binding to clearly show ownership and class rating. This gives as an idea of the ease of influence males have over ancient traditions and women's options in life. Making it necessary for women to have this done, as it dictates their worth and thus the control and power they will gain.
Once Lady Guo Guo has witnessed the Lord's carving, she becomes distressed and angry, enforcing an argument upon the pair. Lady Guo Guo points out that she must do everything financially under the Lords name to retrieve the merchandise she needs to complete her belvedere. This shows the lack of responsibility women are given in society. Following this Lord Guo Guo ends the argument with the line, ""No more credit,"" simply reducing Lady Guo Guo's newly gained control, leaving her reduced to tears, as she cannot do anything about because tradition instructs men to take care of the money. Lady Guo Guo persists however to achieve what she wants, ""Well, let me tell you, you may cripple me in this endeavour, but you will never stop me."" And the line, "" No man would marry a natural-footed woman. There is more to binding feet than just the binding."" These are very clever lines as they instruct and inform the audience that it is the men who control, effect and restrict a woman's opportunities in life. We get an idea of just how big a part men play in controlling their quality of life.
From this Lady Guo Guo then goes onto seeking her own power within the relationship, ironically using the power foot binding holds over her husband. She informs him that she shall leave Pleasure Mouse natural footed; the power of this threat is so great that Lord Guo Guo instantly becomes the weaker one in this conflict. "" Shall the prefect Lord Guo Guo's daughter be ntural footed? Your choice my Lord,"" she uses this against him as she knows this act is a necessity, for tradition to be followed through, essential for Pleasure mouse to be given a respected place in society, and for shame not to be brought on the Lord for the miscarriage of this tradition. As Lady Guo Guo persists to deter the Lord, he grows weaker and she grows more powerful, this is shown through the verbs used to describe the actions and ways in which Lord Guo Guo speaks, 'muttered sullenly'- shows how he grows intolerant of the control he is losing, 'snarled'- shows how irritated he has become by this.
""Would you harm you daughter to harm me? What is it you seek, wife?"" This line is very ironic that the effects of not performing this custom would cause harm to Pleasure Mouse's reputation but if it is performed the effects of physical deformity will be the 'harm'. This shows us however that reputation and honour is considered the most important factors in this story, as the Lord is willing to give into his wife for this, losing all personal control and power in the relationship. Lady Guo Guo's compromise is in her words 'unlimited credit', she has now achieved what she was afraid of asking for in the beginning all through the power of bribery. Even though the Lord is very reluctant to do so, "The Lord spoke through gritted teeth," he does so to keep his honour and attain honour for his daughter externally.
In conclusion, this episode shows us just how powerful an effect traditions and honours held within this period of medieval China. It also expresses the thematic contrast within this play, being men's power over women and women's power over men. Although both show power over one an other from this scene we can depict that both have a different type of control over one an other. Males power in this story comes from the ability to withhold honour through tradition, in this case foot binding, this act which was compulsory for women to undergo if they were to achieve a reputable position in society e.g. whether they would marry well, achieve a high status etc. Although culture tells us that males are the more dominant species within society, we can see that this is sometimes only true when it comes to the internal of a relationship between the opposite sex. For example Lady Guo Guo uses bribery to gain control of a very delicate situation, essentially to achieve control she would like over Lord Guo Guo's riches and class by putting his honour in jeopardy, which further emphasises the effects of traditions. The thematic contrast of dependence and independence is also appears in this scene, we are witness to both main characters depending on each other to in the end achieve what they both want. Lord Guo Guo giving in to Lady Guo Guo to acquire his wish, that Pleasure mouse have her feet bound, and in the case of Lady Guo Guo, achieving unlimited credit on what she considers as her honour in this story her burial tomb.
