Reading Notes W5: Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger, Part A

Feng Menglong, “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger” (497-517)

Themes:

1)      Social Class

·         Lia falling to be so poor after spending so long with Tenth.

·         Lia seeing a courtesan is considered to be of the low. It even angers his father: “When the old Commissioner Li back home heard that his son was passing his time whoring in the pleasure district, he repeatedly sent letters calling him back home” (501)

·         The fact that he married a whore, Tenth; makes it hard for their marriage to be accepted and for him to return home with her.

2)      Love

·         Love affair between Lia and Tenth.

·         Their love for each other is what started this story.

·         Tenth’s love for Lia is the reason for money to be lent: “It was not for your sake that I borrowed this money, but rather because I am moved by the sincere feeling of Du Tenth” (505).

·         Lia’s love for Tenth, made him worry about losing her.

·         Love ends in ruins due to men named Sun Fu attempting to steal a woman and Lia Jia who did not recognize Tenth’ devotion. Thus, Tenth committed suicide by jumping in the river.

3)      Wealth/money

·         Money is the only way for them to get by.

·         Money is ticket to Tenth’s freedom: “But there’s just one thing: he’s got to give me the money within three days. I’ll hand you over to him as soon as he hands me the cash” (502).

·         Lia spends all his money to see Tenth and even sold his clothes. Thus this could mean that money is the only way to obtain things.

·         Struggles with money are seen throughout the whole story.

·         Tenth is often giving money to Lia who spends it all. She makes up for what he lacks: money.

·         Money is the only way can to get by like, staying in places or paying for a boat.

·         Sun Fu attempts to buy off Tenth from Lia by telling Lia that he would need the money to get his father to accept him. Example: “with that thousand taels I will have a pretext on which to call on my parents, and you, my dear benefactress, will have someone to rely on” (514).

·         Money leads to Tenth’s demise. She hid a large sum of money throughout the whole story, only to throw it in the river and to jump into the river with what’s left of it.

Note: Du Tenth died because of money, love and betrayal.