Reflection Paper 2. Movie Review. Literature & Language Essay

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Movie Review
Raise the Red Lanterns is a Chinese movie which was directed by Zhang Yimou and produced in 1991. Its setting reflects majorly the Warlord Era in which the practice of concubinary was common. It stars Gong Li as Songlian who acts as a nineteen year old girl who is among the few educated women in the land. After her father’s death, Songlian’s stepmother forces her to get married to Master Chen, a rich old man in the Chen genealogy. After getting married, she realizes that she is the fourth wife, being preceded by other three. Among these were Yuru, who was of almost the same age as the master of the house. Zhouyun was the second wife who immediately befriended Songlian when she arrived in the place, while the third wife was Meishan, a former singer of Opera music.
Being the fourth wife or third concubine and also new at that time, Songlian gets richly treatment which includes foot massages, best food menu and red lanterns lit in her room every night. She enjoys the moments and the regular visit by her husband almost every night. Later, Songlian realizes that the same treatment is usually given to all other concubines whenever the master visits them at night. She also realizes that the master only allows the red lanterns to be lit in the house of the concubine that he plans to spend the night with. Another realization was that there was a deep form of jealousy and competition that the women exercised in their bid to attract and maintain their husband. Due to these factors, Songlian joins in the competition, an event that leaves her insane. This essay assesses the different factors that led Songlian to willingly or forcefully participate in the ‘games’ that led to her eventual victimization.
Having been married into a rich family, Songlian willingly accepted her situation and decided to be part of the family. Although she was an educated girl who had gone even to college, she delighted in the soft and richly treatments that she received the moment she arrived in her matrimonial home. The more they treated her well, the more she found contentment and relaxation so that when the master ordered the servants to cease concentrating on her, she was already in a state where she could have done anything to reinstate her former glory. Therefore, when sh...