(#1) When passion comes in conflict with other more rational values, it is usually the passionate side that wins. In Feng Menglong’s story “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger,” passion is important to Du Tenth. Throughout the story, Tenth faces several situations where passion comes into conflict with other more rational values, especially in regards to young master Li Jia. However, her decisions are always influences by her devotion to passion.
(#2) Tenth does not simply want to be free of being a courtesan, she wants someone to love her passionately. From the very beginning of the story, Tenth could have easily paid for her freedom as a courtesan. This is evident when Tenth reveals the treasure hidden in her golden chain box. She states, “There is no less than ten thousand taels here” (515). With that kind of fortune, Tenth could have been free with the help of any other …show more content…
Li explains to Tenth that “[Sun Fu] has it in mind to take [her] in for one thousand taels” and that she will “have someone to rely on” (514). With this offer, Tenth would not have to deal with the troubles Li brings upon her and would be in a far more economically stable situation. After all, Sun Fu is described as someone with a family that has “amassed an immense fortune" (509). The more rational choice would be to go with Fu; it would be her easy way out. Instead of choosing this decision, Tenth says to Fu, “Mr. Li and I have endured every kind of hardship. It was no easy thing for us to come this far. But you with your lecherous intentions hatched a cunning plot that has dissolved all our destined life together in a single day, and destroyed the love and affection between us” (515). Unlike Li, there are no earnest and passionate feelings from Fu when he regards Tenth. Instead, he sees her as another casual “jaunt,” (509) hence Tenth’s refusal to go with
(#2) Tenth does not simply want to be free of being a courtesan, she wants someone to love her passionately. From the very beginning of the story, Tenth could have easily paid for her freedom as a courtesan. This is evident when Tenth reveals the treasure hidden in her golden chain box. She states, “There is no less than ten thousand taels here” (515). With that kind of fortune, Tenth could have been free with the help of any other …show more content…
Li explains to Tenth that “[Sun Fu] has it in mind to take [her] in for one thousand taels” and that she will “have someone to rely on” (514). With this offer, Tenth would not have to deal with the troubles Li brings upon her and would be in a far more economically stable situation. After all, Sun Fu is described as someone with a family that has “amassed an immense fortune" (509). The more rational choice would be to go with Fu; it would be her easy way out. Instead of choosing this decision, Tenth says to Fu, “Mr. Li and I have endured every kind of hardship. It was no easy thing for us to come this far. But you with your lecherous intentions hatched a cunning plot that has dissolved all our destined life together in a single day, and destroyed the love and affection between us” (515). Unlike Li, there are no earnest and passionate feelings from Fu when he regards Tenth. Instead, he sees her as another casual “jaunt,” (509) hence Tenth’s refusal to go with