Raise the Red Lantern by Zhang Yimou Essay

Raise the Red Lantern (1991) directed by Zhang Yimou was based on a novel c all tolded Wives and Concubines by Su Tong. This picture takes place in the early 1900s which tells the bilgewater of a woman named Songlian (played by Gong Li) who was struck by the austereness of reality. Her overprotect died during the Chinese Civil War when she was nineteen. Facing the death of her father and the severity of the family financial situation, she was left with no choice but to embrace the wealthy Chen family. Upon arrival to the Chens estate, Songlian was greeted with open arms and was treated like royalty. She later came to the realization that it was just a virtuous fantasy as she experience more of the traditions and rules set by the get Chen. The sea captain has four sporting lady, Songlian being the fourth, and all was in competition with one a nonher(prenominal) for the reigns affection and attention. Each mistress has her throw lodge in the castle and her own personal se rvant.The routine on a daily basis was to stands in front of their quarters and awaits the Masters decision 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 early glance, Songlian finds Zhuoyun, the Second Mistress, to be trusting and kind. She laters found out that Zhuoyun was said to oblige a face of the Buddha, but the heart of a scorpion. Songlian, wasteing for her husband affection, decides to fake her own pregnancy. Yaner backstabbed Songlian by revealing the bloodstain undergarment to Zhuoyun. pretending her concern for Songlians pregnancy, the second mistress requested the family doctor to meet Songlinas condition.Infuriated by Songlians deception, the master ordered all the red lantern in her quarters to be covered by a black canvas. As an coif of revenge, Songlian re vealed Yaner secret obsession with the master and ordered all the red lantern in Yaners style to be burned. Yaners refusal to apologize to Songlian kneel all iniquity which eventually led to her death. During Songlians birthday, she drunkenly professes the Meishan, third mistress, affairs with the family doctor. macrocosm manipulative as she is, Zhuoyun caught the third mistress and the doctor in the act of adultry. As punishment for infidelity, Meishan was hanged. The following summer, the master marry yet another doxys. At this point, Songlian has finally went completely insane and was just wandering round in her own quarters.In order for this choose to be called a Classical Hollywood Narrative, it must adheres to the four simple stages in which this annals composes. First stage, the cuneus, is naturalized 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 main protagonist at the very begi nning. However, it is very hard to determine whether Songlian is actually a hero in this film. At the beginning, it did shows that her motive is very admirable in accept her fate in order to save 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 protagonist. Instead, I see her as protagonist with the negative traits of an antagonist. Second stage, the goal, is established for the protagonist to pursue. In this case, Songlians goal is to become a concubine to a wealthy family to save her family from poverty. The success of this goal is very simplistic. Although her foresighted term goal is unclear, the sense of give waying is very clear. Cle arly Songlian did not want to live a life 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 set by the master of the house. Unlike most obstacles which has a clear time period 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 stamp down 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 queasy at the end. That is a complete failure for a hero of a narrative. I believe a better way to become prosperous in this films obstacles would be death because it is the only range for the fate a concubine.