"Wild Swans"

Paper Summary:

The paper describes how Chinese cultural traditions shape and transform the lives of each of the main characters in Chang's work, "Wild Swans", influencing them to adopt political loyalties that eventually end up destroying their lives and true cultural traditions. The paper examines how the author reviews the political upheaval occurring in China during the 20th century, suggesting that cultural traditions impacted not only individuals' mentality and political loyalties, but were also manipulated by the government to worship someone who would ultimately destroy any semblance of culture and tradition. The paper concludes that Chang accurately reflects the obstacles faced by Chinese women living during this time as a reflection in part of cultural traditions.

Outline:
Introduction
Communism Under Mao
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Suffering is considered in Wild Swans to be the norm rather than the exception to the rule, a cultural tradition that endures through three generations in Chang's work. Through suffering each of the women believes that they are fulfilling their obligation to their leaders and the communist party. The first generation of woman represented by Chang is the concubine of a warlord. Her daughter is the second woman surveyed by Chang, and then the third the daughter again, who reflects the author's life and circumstances. Chang begins her work in the 1920s telling the tale of the grandmother who following multiple traditions and customer becomes a concubine, bound to her leader and warlord out of a sense of duty. Chang focuses much of her attention on her mother however who as a teenager becomes a communist."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Sanders, R.J. (2002, Feb). "Wild Swans." Rsanders. 3, December 2005: http://www.rsanders.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=123
• Chang, Jung. Wild Swans: New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991.
• "Wild Swans, Jung Chang." Filmmakers Library. 3, December 2005: http://www.filmakers.com/indivs/WildSwans.htm

More papers on "Wild Swans":

• Book Review # 121069 : "Chinese History in "Wild Swans"
• Book Review # 141469 : "Jung Chang's "Wild Swans"
• Analytical Essay # 42713 : "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China"
• Analytical Essay # 37230 : "The Wild Swans at Coole"

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