Running Free, But Still Fenced essays

Running Free, But Still Fenced essays A look at the evolution of Chinese womens Tradition When a person sees a horse running in a field their first thought is, it would be nice to be that free. A horse in a field gives the impression of having no problems no boundaries. This is a sad misjudgment. If people would just look at the fence surrounding the field, they would see that the horse is only given the appearance of being free. This statement seems to summarize the plight of Ning Lao Tai-tai, in Ida Pruitts book A Daughter of Han. Pruitt shows the evolution of Ning from a common, traditional, Chinese woman into what some would see as a very independent one in Chinese standards. Through chronicling the many stories told by Ning, Pruitt is able to show the life of a woman that has lived to see early and late imperialism come and go. The purpose of this essay is to show that Nings progression of independence was no more Ning was born in the city of Penglai to a family of three children. At the beginning of her life Ning clearly did not have a good out look on her future. The destiny determined for me by Heaven was not a good one (Ida Pruitt, 12).1 Her father was an educated man, but did not posses the skill necessary to be a successful businessperson. Ning clearly gained her first knowledge of womens place in society from her father. She explained this is a peculiar way; They did not begin to bind my feet until I was seven because I loved so much to run and play (Ida Pruitt, 22).2 This is the first example given by Pruitt that shows the pain and suffering a Chinese women had 1 Ida Pruitt. A Daughter of Han, (Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, 1967), Foot binding is a horrible process in which the feet were wrapped with bandages. These bandages were wrapped so tight that it actually broke bones in the feet. In China beaut...