Raise the Red Lantern by Zhang Yimou Essay

Raise the loss Lantern (1991) directed by Zhang Yimou was based on a novel c entirelyed Wives and Concubines by Su Tong. This bring takes place in the early 1900s which tells the write up of a woman named Songlian (played by buzzer Li) who was struck by the harshness of rea illuminatey. Her make died during the Chinese Civil War when she was nineteen. lining the death of her father and the severity of the family fiscal situation, she was left with no choice barely to marry the monied Chen family. Upon reach to the Chens estate, Songlian was greeted with open ordnance and was treated like royalty. She later came to the recognition that it was exactly a mere phantasy as she experience more of the traditions and rules regulate by the Master Chen. The Master has tetrad whore, Songlian being the fourth, and all was in competition with one a nonher for the nobles affection and attention. Each fancy woman has her declare quarter in the castle and her experience persona l servant.The r bring outine on a daily basis was to stands in summit of their quarters and awaits the Masters end on his sexual needs. Once his decision is made, the quarter of the mistress chosen was lit up with red lanterns. For that day, the chosen mistress is rewarded with foot massage, meal of her choice, and the respect of all the servants in the estate. At first glance, Songlian finds Zhuoyun, the minute of arc Mistress, to be trusting and kind. She laters found out that Zhuoyun was said to have a demonstrate of the Buddha, but the heart of a scorpion. Songlian, ardent for her husband affection, decides to fake her have pregnancy. Yaner backstabbed Songlian by conk outing the bloodstain undergarment to Zhuoyun. feigning her concern for Songlians pregnancy, the second mistress requested the family doctor to examine Songlinas condition.Infuriated by Songlians deception, the sweep over ordered all the red lantern in her quarters to be covered by a black canvas. As an represent of revenge, Songlian revea conduct Yaner secret obsession with the superior and ordered all the red lantern in Yaners room to be burned. Yaners refusal to apologize to Songlian kneel all night which eventually led to her death. During Songlians birthday, she drunkenly professes the Meishan, terce mistress, personal business with the family doctor. Being manipulative as she is, Zhuoyun caught the third mistress and the doctor in the morsel of adultry. As punishment for infidelity, Meishan was hanged. The following summer, the master marry yet another concubines. At this point, Songlian has finally went recognizely insane and was just wandering around in her own quarters.In order for this film to be called a Classical Hollywood Narrative, it mustiness stay puts to the four simple stages in which this narrative composes. First stage, the hero, is established clearly at the beginning revealing his/her strengths and flaws. This film adhere to the first stage in which it did reveals who is the of import fighter at the rattling beginning. However, it is truly weighed down to determine whether Songlian is actually a hero in this film. At the beginning, it did shows that her actor is very(prenominal) admirable in pass judgment her fate in order to conserve her family from poverty. As the story progresses, in my opinion, she is reveal to be weak and unforgiving. Her weakness shows in her selfishness as she yearn for affection and attention. Her unforgiveness shows when after her deception was reveal in her pregnancy.She became very vengeful and it causes the death of Yaner and Meishan. For those reason, it is hard for me to consider her only as a relay transmitter. Instead, I see her as booster dose with the negative traits of an antagonist. Second stage, the goal, is established for the superstar to pursue. In this case, Songlians goal is to live on a concubine to a wealthy family to save her family from poverty. The success of this goa l is very simplistic. Although her long term goal is unclear, the sense of belonging is very clear. Clearly Songlian did not want to live a flavour as a concubine. She does belong here, but her fate is inevitable.Third stage, the obstacle, can be established as the lifestyle of the concubines and upholding the traditions and rules specify by the master of the house. Unlike most(prenominal) obstacles which has a clear time decimal point of resolution, the obstacle in this film appears to be never ending. Final stage, the success, is established when the protagonist finally achieve his/her goals and overcome the obstacle with great success. Unlike Classical Hollywood Narrative, the ending to this film left the protagonists problems unresolve and distraught. She just went insane and became mentally ill at the end. That is a complete failure for a hero of a narrative. I believe a crack way to become successful in this films obstacles would be death because it is the only escape f or the fate a concubine.