Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Book Report/Review Example

Insert Insert of the supervisor Insert of the Insert assignment is due Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Having earneda pacific American and Asian honorable Snow flower and the secret fan is a novel by Lisa Lee. The 2005 novel narrates about Lily’s life through major life stages from birth to old age. The reigns of several Chinese emperors have analysis ranging from Emperor Daoguang to Emperor Guangxu.I find the great focus of the novel on the philosophy and daily living in the Chinese set up of nineteen century.

The great focus is the inner realm of a woman. Sorrows, joy, and other important events like marriage and presence of newborn is shared on a form of writing sent to and fro by nu shu fan between Snow flower and Lily. Nurturing this fan through several years, results to a long-lasting relationship. A laotong relationship is made by choice for the purpose of emotional companionship and eternal fidelity. A marriage is not made by choice and has only one purpose-to have sons (See 43). The representation of the past china where Lisa majors in her novel, women are set to be the class of the oppressed.

They are slaves of cultural reproductive oxen always submissive to men. These women are obedient and keep the expectation on baby boys from bed business. The women of 19th century China whom Lisa See writes about in her tenderhearted new novel were a brutally oppressed class. They were the reproductive oxen of a culture that men were rulers. The culture insisted upon absolute obedience and lots and many baby boys from bed business (See 105)The tales stress the way women used to sing in nu shu in a very lovely and interesting way.

At beginning, there is stage introduction of a woman communicating with the secret mode in a largely male domination society. In preparation for her new life, Lily has no mandate to change her family’s fortune for the purpose of good marriage. She undergoes foot-binding agony, nu shu secret writing process of learning, and finally making Snow Flower a special friend. All through the novel, the theme of Snow Flower and Lily’s relationship theme dominates (See 189).Having also had a chance to watch the film, I can attest that the film has coverage of the modernity, which is not in the novel.

As per my perspective, the movie frames a present story into compliment of the past story. This demeans the past story as being unable to stand alone. In the start of the film, reference to themes of the novel is also a point to note. My personal impressions on mother to Lily in the book seem to show sympathy in contrary to movies message more so in foot binding. Nina’s present Shanghais story is also not present in the novel, which has a basis in 19th century china.The novel is a very outstanding collection of a culture description.

Lisa Lee has also utilized her good potential on the character and theme development. The fascinating and hard life of a woman in the traditional set up has a full analysis page by page. As portrayed by the phrase “obey, obey, obey, then do what you want” this act as to prove that torture and women confinement traces its origin in Far East then to Middle East via India. The novel is stunning and a good shot for women struggle for empowerment.Works CitedSee, Lisa. Snow flower and the secret fan.

New York: Random House, Inc., 2005.