Raised the Red Lantern Writing Assignment

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Raised the Red Lantern
Introduction
The film, Raised the Red Lantern was produced in 1991 and was directed by Zhang Yimou starring Gong Li. The movie is an adaptation from the novel, Wives, and Concubines, written by Su Tong in 1990. The film narrates the story of a young woman who becomes one of the concubines to a wealthy man. This was during the Warlord Era, and the period is marked by the use of colors and visuals in the film. The film has received recognition worldwide and won multiple awards. Most people criticized the film by saying that the director tried too much to appeal to the western world instead of his people. However, the film is one of the best productions in China. The essay discusses the adverse effects of polygamy and how gender inequality existed in the society.
Summary
The Warlord era was years before the Chinese War happened. A nineteen-year-old educated woman is forced to get married to a wealthy old man by her stepmother. This is after her father dies and leaves the family bankrupt. Songlian becomes the fourth mistress, or rather, the third concubine of the household. She was treated like royalty after she arrives at the house. She receives foot massages and brightly lit red lanterns with countless visits from Master Chen, whose face is not shown clearly. Soon, Songlian discovers that all the other mistresses do not receive the same treatment. She learns that the master decides the concubine he will spend the night with. Whoever is chosen is given the luxurious treatment with lit lanterns. The preferred concubine is also given the liberty to choose whatever she wants to eat in addition to being respected most by the servants. The concubines compete to please the master and become his preferred choice.
The mistresses are always in a competition aimed at seeking favor in the eyes of the master. Songlian realizes that the competition between the mistresses is a fruitless endeavor. She is depressed as she realizes that her life is wasted. She thinks that dying would be a better option compared to being a concubine in the household. When she turns twenty, she is drunk and ends up telling Zhuoyun about the love affair between Meishan and the doctor. Meishan is taken to the roof of the lone room, formerly known as the room of death, and hanged to death by the servants. Songlian has already given up on her life and is traumatized after witnessing the death of Meishan. The master is preparing to get married to another concubine the following summer. Songlian has already gone insane and is seen wandering around the compound in her old school uniform.
Historical Analysis
Multiple changes were happening in China at the beginning of the twentieth century. The traditions changed, and the people started adopting a new way of life. For instance, China changed the form of government by forming a republic and getting rid of its empire. The empire administration was old fashioned, and China had to modernize itself, to become part of the new western world. However, many Chinese traditions did not fade away quickly, as seen in the famous Chinese film, Raised the Red Lantern (Lee 122). The film emphasizes on gender relationships, according to the Chinese. The man has all ...