NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Wild Swans Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China is a autobiographical story written by Chinese author Jung Chang. The writer tells an exciting, unsettling and evocative story of how three generations of women from her family were involved in the political life of China during the 20 th century. This is a story of three women, Jung Chang, her mother Bao Qin, and her maternal grandmother Yu-fang. The present paper discusses the marriage of Bao Qin, the authors mother, to a fellow communist and its impact on her role as a wife, outlines the struggles of the authors maternal grandmother Yu-fang as a wife and a mother, and examines what events and/ or cultural expectations made it more difficult for Yu-fang to fulfill these traditional roles. Finally, the paper examines the relationship of Yu-fang with her parents and first husband general Xue. Jung Chang's mother Bao Qin was fascinated with Communism and Communist ideas.
She liked communism, probably, because she knew all the hardships her mother went through on her way to happiness. When Bao Qin was 15 years old, she started to work for Mao Zedong's army and the Communist Party. Her first boyfriend was also a communist and was killed by the Kuomintang authorities because they suspected him of belonging to Communist Party. This event made great impact on her life and influenced her decision to become a member of a Communist Party. Bao Qin liked the feeling that she can do something very useful for her country and can struggle for better life for all the citizens. Although the traditional social roles and expectations didnt tolerate woman occupying high ranks and, Bao Qin was very happy with her promotion.
She liked that her contribution into the Partys activities was acknowledged and valued and soon became a high-ranking party member. At that time she met her future husband, who, similar to Bao Qin, was well-educated and was a passionate communist. They married, however, according to the Party rules they were not allowed to meet often. Bao Qin and her husband soon moved to Yibin, the town, where Jung's father was born. The long way to the town was very difficult, as the regions where they had to travel, was hilly and mountainous. According to the partys ideals, Bao Qin had to travel on foot.
Otherwise she would be treated as a traitor. Her husband was so passionate about the party ideals that he never helped her and even refused to carry her personal things. The things were even worse, because Bao Qin was pregnant. However, she didnt tell her husband about her pregnancy. When the couple arrived to Nanjing, Bao Qin continued to lead active and patriotic way of life, and was forced to do military training until she was inducted to the Communist Party (Chang). All these hardships and exhaustion's led to the miscarriage of her child.
Bao Qin's husband was very upset and promised to her that he will never be so inattentive. Later Bao Qin gave birth to Jung and, again, due to the family's privileged position in the party, Jung's life was relatively easy compared to other children. As we can see, Bao Qin's marriage to a fellow communist had great impact on her life and her role as a wife. Yu-fang's life was also very difficult. As it is told by the author of the book, Yu-fang's father didnt love her. The girl was brought up in a traditionally patriarchal society, with traditional female social roles and expectations.
Yu-fangs family belonged to the lower-class society, and as far as Yu-fangs father wanted to climb up the higher tier of the social ladder, he wanted to sell his daughter as a concubine to a general, who was very wealthy and very successful high-ranking man. Yu-fangs father has arranged Yu-fangs marriage and the authors maternal grandmother was brought to the generals house. After the wedding was over, Yu-fang actually was left alone for six years, however, she had to behave in such a way to avoid rumors and to act according to her social status, because there was a high risk that the servants of the house she lived in, would tell all the rumors to the General, and he would severely punish her. The General rarely visited his wife, and Bao Qin, Jung Chang's mother was conceived during one of such brief visits. However, even the birth of the child was hardly a happy event, because, according to the ancient traditions, as it was insisted by the family of the General, Yu-fang had to bring her daughter to mansion, as she had to be the heir. Yu-fang was in despair.
She tried to do all her best to avoid obeying and managed to avoid bringing her to the officer's house for a year. During that time the general felt ill and soon died. Yu-fang came to witness the death of the general and the generals family has announced that Yu-fangs daughter, Bao Qin will be taken away from her and will be raised by the first wife of the general. These were the traditions.
Yu-fang was in complete despair and felt absolutely frustrated. She didn't want to leave her daughter and lied to the general's family that she will obey their orders. However, when she came back home, she send them a notice that Bao Gin died on a train on her way to the general's family. Yu-fang had to lie in order to keep her daughter with her. As far as Yu-fang's husband died, Yu-fang had to come back to her parent's home and had Bao Qin to think of. Finally, after all her sufferings Yu-fang married doctor Xia, who was very kind, and went to live with the doctor in Manchuria.
Yu-fang, Doctor Xia and Bao Qin lived happily and Yu-fang finally felt safe and happy until the Revolution started. Works Cited Chang, Jung. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China. London: Simon and Schuster, 1991.
Free research essays on topics related to: communist party, three daughters, high ranking, great impact, social roles
Research essay sample on Communist Party Social Roles
