How To Raise The Red Lantern

Raise the Red Lantern is a film depicting life in a polygamous household in Pre-Modern China. The film, released in 1991, takes place in China in the 1920s during the Warlord Era. The movie tells the story of a young Chinese woman who marries a wealthy man and becomes one of his concubines. The film depicts the struggles the concubines, or mistress, face in competing for attention and affection from their master. The film also portrays the conflicts between the mistresses and their maids, and the strict rules that they must follow. Raise the Red Lantern is a somber film that illustrates the roles that women play and the conflicts they face living in a polygamous household in China.
The film is told from the point-of-view of Songlian, a nineteen-year-old university student who is forced to drop out after her father dies and leaves the family bankrupt. Songlian reluctantly decides to marry into the wealthy Chen …show more content…
The practice of having concubines is just one example of a traditional system that occurs. Master Chen is a wealthy man who has four mistresses. Each mistress has a lavish house and is supplied with food and beautiful clothes. However, the mistresses come into conflict when they vie for the master’s attention. When Songlian arrives, Master Chen decides to spend the first night with her. Early the next morning, Meishan, the third mistress, says that she is sick and wants the master to comfort her. The next morning, Master Chen spends the night with Songlian again but they are awoken by Meishan’s singing. This is just one example of the conflicts between the mistresses. They are constantly vying for the master’s attention and will do anything for it. This competition causes the mistresses to turn against each other. Zhuoyun, the second mistress was initially friendly toward Songlian and warns her about Meishan. As time goes on, Zhuoyun is the one who should not be