Wild Swans By Jung Chang - 2008 Words

Jung Chang’s Wild Swans combines a first person narrative and real historical events to create a story that is both compelling and informative. Though the author tells different tales in the three parts of the book, the themes of violence, oppression, and abuse of power remain static throughout. In retelling stories from three generations, Chang depicts the hardships faced by citizens of opposite genders and different ages in twentieth-century Communist China. Through the author’s vivid details, the reader gets a look into how women were perceived and mistreated in society. Chang, her mother, and her grandmother all accepted subservient roles in the household. What is interesting to consider is how traditional values held up during the reign of the Communist party. Throughout the novel, the reader sees the female characters struggling to uphold conventional ideals while simultaneously adjusting to new responsibilities brought forth by the party and attempting to establi sh their power as women. It is worth considering whether the party alone was responsible for not doing away with the old traditions and expectations for females, or if society as a whole perpetuated these values through their actions and treatment of one another. This essay will seek to make sense of that question through critical analysis of the novel. Women were restricted from having an opinion or ever expressing their feelings in the home. If they broke these unspoken rules, the result was usually aShow MoreRelated Wild Swans, by Jung Chang Essay1123 Words   |  5 PagesWild Swans, by Jung Chang The Chinese people have experienced rapid change, in government and culture in the 20th century. 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The importance of Chang’s book is its in a women s point of view by showing the suffering and healing that occurred and to educate about the history of China through the Warlord, Japanese, and Mao rule. The book is laid out through three generations: grandma, mom,Read MoreBook Review Wild Swans3272 Words   |  14 PagesBook Review Author: Jung Chang Title: Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China Publication: Simon and Schuster, London, 1991 1. Main Thesis In Wild Swans, Jung Chang describes the life of three generations of woman in her family. Beginning in the year 1909 and ending in present time, it gives an insight into almost eighty years of the cultural history of China. Jung Chang has said in a interview that her intention in writing Wild Swans was to show how the Chinese people, and in particular the womenRead MoreWild Swans by Jun Chang1108 Words   |  5 Pages Jung Chang is a Chinese-born British writer that is known for her award-winning book, Wild Swans. 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