Literature
The books, Jade Peony and Frankenstein, have female characters in their plots so as to spice up the dramatic events that occur in the two books. First, it is important to note that this paper will focus solely on Jook Liang, who is a character in the Jade Peony, and Safie who plays a minor role in Frankenstein. These two women characters have some similarities and differences. This paper argues that the two characters Jook Liang and Safie are both brought up in highly chauvinist societies that have little regard for members of the female gender, but both characters are portrayed as courageous and dedicated individual who tirelessly struggle to break the social norms, conventions, and restraints put on them by society.
Firstly, focusing on the differences portrayed in both characters, Jook-Liang feels inferior to the world surrounding her whereas Safie is painted as a character that is skillful and beautiful in the narrative. Liang, who is the only female child in her family, feels a sense of hopelessness in that the male child is elevated and seen as important to the society compared to the girl-child. This fact upsets Liang and makes her look down upon herself by believing she is useless and not beautiful. Poh-poh tells Liang that girl-child is useless in the society and that coming from a low economic status diminishes one’s beuty by being considered ugly (Choy 41). In most cases, when someone feels inferior about their outer selves and qualities, their confidence deteriorates eminently. This means that Liang had to fight her inner thoughts so as to maintain a positive attitude. This positive attitude is a key asset to the character because she questions the matter of the society as a whole that has believed the boy child is more important than the girl child in the1930s. It is evident from the narrative that her grandmother (poh- poh) helps her understand that she was seen as ugly during her teenage life yet she became beautiful and gorgeous as years went by. This example acts as an illumination lens to Liang as she promises to see herself as beautiful regardless of the reality when she looks at the mirror. Liang decides to change the negativity to something positive by calling herself Shirley Temple (Choy 41). This shows that the character has an inner trouble that she has to deal with so as to elevate her confidence. It is clear from the examples that Liang was an intelligent girl who was keen at observing the law of the society such that she questions that reason as to why the Chinese community lacks gender equality at that time.
Looking at Safie, she is a minor character in the book written by Mary Shelley, Frankenstein. Safie is a strong-willed character who flees from her father in search of her love, Felix. The fact that she makes a decision to run away from family so as be with the person she loves makes her iron-willed. Unlike Liang who has trouble believing in herself which diminishes her level of confidence, Safie knows what her heart is aspiring. Safie is willing to break the law of nature that makes one believe that family is the most important thing in life by running away to meet her love, whom she hardly. This is in contrast to the saying, better the devil you know than the angel you do not know in terms of the fact that Safie runs away from her tyrant father to the unknown. This factor adds juice to the narrative in that Safie is putting her life on the line by choosing a person who she hardly knows, but makes the choice through focusing on how her heart feels. Safie is confident enough to escape her father so as to be with her lover (Shelly 17). This indicates that Safie is a character that does not let bad thoughts or ideas hinder her from pursuing what she wants. It is evident that Safie is a woman who demonstrates courage and ambition in that she leaves her father behind so as to start a new life with the love of her life despite the fact that she knows little about Felix.
This shows that between Safie and Liang, Safie is a strong willed character who thrives at possessing qualities of a champion in that she is independent and has the desire to achieve what her inner mind tells her. On the other hand, Liang is a character that struggles into believing that she is beautiful, which would aid and sky-rocket her confidence levels. This example illustrates a contrast between the two characters in their respective books despite the fact that they are both women.
Secondly, Liang’s grandmother keeps on telling her how the girl-child is useless in the society, which tarnishes and changes Liang’s way of looking at things that surrounds her. One of the things that changes is how she looked at her siblings who were male. It is interesting to note that Liang notices some of the factors that have aided gender discrimination especially in her home. Liang complains about how her brother are given more attention and treated with more care compared to her. For example, when her young brother fell sick, she grunts, “Baby brother was sick. Always sick. Always getting all the attention; always snoring because of his congested lungs though he had no fever” (Choy 27). This illustrates that Liang notion of gender inequality had suck under her skin in that she does not see why her younger brother should receive all that care. According to her, she felt that she did not get all that attention compared to her younger brother. In addition, Liang complains the fact that she has to take the responsibility in changing her younger brother’s diapers in that she is the female figure. This means that women are closely associated in taking the responsibility to take care of things regardless of one’s age. However, her grandmother does not see anything wrong with Liang’s changing her younger brother’s diapers as it is seen as a role and duty in the old traditional Chinese culture. This makes Liang dislike her grandmother as she did not feel contented based on the fact that the boy child was respected and seen of more importance by the society at large. In addition, as Liang awaits her uncle’s arrival, she remembers that her Uncle Wong Suk and father hade government paper from her. Liang takes this personal by thinking that her father did that in the sense that she was a female(Choy 36). This may be or not true. However, this indicates that Liang had become obsessed over the fact that the society had condescended over the fact that the females had little rights compared to the male-figures. Though Liang notices the science of gender discrimination in her country, she does not do anything about but stays perturbed mentally as she tries to analyze what is happening around her. This illustrates a blanket of powerlessness that covers Liang in that she is too young to make prime decision or to stand up for what she thinks it right especially due to the fact that her grandmother had accepted the law of the society.
On the other hand, looking at Frankenstein’s character, Safie, she is strong willed and stands up to her father. This is because that Safie deprives her father’s wishes by running off to a foreign land so as to be with her lover (Shelly 141). This shows a sense of independence and bravery in that she travels alone so as to fulfill her dream. It is important to note that travelling alone in the ancient days was a significant thing in that women were seen as inferior and that they were not allowed to travel alone. This makes Safie a heroin in a way for gathering the courage to travel to a foreign land. In addition, when Safie reaches her destination and meets her lover, Felix, she begins to learn a new language. This shows that Safie is willing to learn and try new things. This fact makes her admirable as she is determined to start her new life with her lover. Through the help of her lover, Safie learns a new language so as to dismantle any language barrier between her and Felix’s family (Shelley 251). As Safie is putting effort into learning the new language, she takes the time to teach a monster the art of language and some of the human character and ideals. This shows that Safie is free willed and a person that is ready to help. It is evident that education plays a key role in this scene in that through Safie help, the monster gains knowledge and understands that he is a loner because there is no one else to keep him company (Shelly 176). This shows that education and knowledge is a crucial thing that aids one to realize the events that are happening around.
It is evident that there is a contrast between these two characters in that Safie is free willed and courageous in terms of going for what she wants. On the other hand, Liang knows what she is struggling with deep inside but she does not have a choice to fight back in that the society has an ongoing mainstream that shows that everyone is comfortable with the idea gender discrimination. Liang is tied to the Old Chinese culture that requires the girl child to be act and be seen as an inferior being compared to the boy child (Choy 27). This shows that she cannot run away from her culture and roots. The idea of gender discrimination facilitates in depriving her confidence level as she cannot speak up her thoughts compared Safie who follows here ideas and dreams.
It is clear that from these comparisons, both, Safie and Liang are strong individuals. Liang is looking for a break- through whereas Safie has already broken free into her own world. These two individuals in their own way question the law of nature by wanting to go against the mainstream ideas and thoughts brought about by the society. Though Liang is yet to be independent and free from her cultural ties, her thoughts demonstrate that she is thirsty to be equally treated as the male child in the society. She does not like the idea of the male dominating the sphere around. Thus, one can conclude that these two characters in their respective books are strong willed individuals who are willing to achieve more than what the society has put on their plate.
In conclusion, it is clear that there are a number of differences between these two characters, Liang and Safie. Liang questions the societal norms of putting the boy child before the girl child whereas Safie makes a decision of whether to stay with her tyrant father or run off to her lover in a foreign land. Safie decides to leave her father so as to travel in a foreign land in that she is following her heart. This makes here more independent and courageous compared to Liang who does not take a stand on the issues that she is wrestling with. Both characters show a sense of wisdom as they think outside the box, which is wrong according to the society. Due to the fact they are women; the society obliges them to remain inferior and unseen as they do not have a voice. However, these women are portrayed to question the societal norms, which is a good thing.
Works Cited
Choy, Wayson. The jade peony: a novel. Toronto, Canada: Douglas & McIntyre, 2005. Print.
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, D L Macdonald, and Kathleen Scherf. Frankenstein. Ontario, Canada: Broadview Press, 2012. Print.
