From A Daughter of Han by Ning Lao T'ai-t'ai
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From A Daughter of Han by Ning Lao T'ai-t'ai
“The life of the beggar is not the hardest one. There is freedom.” (635)
This quote made me think a lot about what feminism must mean to Ning. Feminism can mean different things to different people, but I think that Ning considers it to be the freedom she has from her husband. Ning never had money of her own unless she begged (633). She refused to become a thief or prostitute so she could not bring dishonor to her family name (634). Even when her husband sold their daughter, she wasn’t able to see any of that money and it all probably went towards his opium addiction (634). Being stuck in extreme poverty with a terrible husband felt like a prison to Ning.
After the loss of her daughter, she decided to leave her husband and lead a completely separate life (635). This is a very progressive idea for the time and culture in which she lived (634). Although she escaped her husband, she could not escape poverty, but this was something she could accept. Breaking away from her husband was enough freedom, and she did not care how much she must beg on the streets as long as her other child was safe from him.
I think when you are in an abusive relationship, it can be difficult to see how badly you need separation. When she learned her daughter was sold for a second time, it was a wakeup call that things needed to change. She no longer cared about “retribution in heaven” for leaving her husband (634). She did not care about what people thought or the consequences, she now would live for herself, and that step is a huge example of female independence.
She was such a progressive figure for her time! I completely agree that she set a huge example for female independence and I think for societal standards of women at the time as well. It was so 'taboo' to divorce or leave your husband, only the man was allowed to do that, so the fact that she stood up for herself and her daughters spoke volumes to her character and the world she lived in. I can only imagine the pain and anguish that she went through, but am hopeful that at least with the other family, her first daughter could have lived a better life.
ReplyDeleteI do think that Ning was super progressive in her lifetime for the way she was living. She must have gone through a tough time with her husband selling their daughter for his drug addiction, and all the abuse she suffered. Being a single women back then, and still even some to this day, is seen as taboo but Ning knew she had to escape from the abusiveness.
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