How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #4
And then he thought of that new mouth come that day into his house and it struck him, with heaviness, that the birth of daughters had begun for him, daughters who do not belong to their parents, but are born and reared for other families. (7.48)
In traditional Chinese culture, boys remained at home with their families even after marriage, whereas girls went to live with their husbands' families. Sometimes, they were almost as good as dead to their own families after marriage. Raising a girl was difficult and stressful, because her parents also had to come up with a good dowry for her. Without a good dowry, she wouldn't be able to make a good match. In some ways, it's no wonder that parents preferred boys.
Quote #5
"Well, but I cannot speak with a woman," objected Wang Lung mildly. He could make nothing of the situation in which he found himself, and he was still staring about him. “Well, and why not?" retorted the woman with anger. (16.54)
Yes! We are not big fans of Cuckoo, but she's the only woman who really stands up for herself against Wang Lung in this novel. Do other women have different, less direct ways of standing up for themselves, or of influencing men? Which method do you think is most effective?
Quote #6
"Now what, woman? Cannot I say comb out your horse's tail of hair without this trouble over it? “But she answered nothing except to say over and over, moaning, “I have borne you sons—I have borne you sons—" […] It was true that before the law he had no complaint against his wife, for she had borne him three good sons and they were alive, and there was no excuse for him except his desire. (20.54)
If O-lan had not given birth to sons, Wang Lung would be legally able to divorce her. He could also divorce her if he thought she was too jealous of Lotus, if she had a disease, or if she gossiped too much. O-lan, on the other hand, would have no legal recourse if she wanted to divorce Wang Lung: that wasn't permitted. What does this legal code tell us about the status of women in this society?