Role of Women in Little Hut of Leaping Fishes
Female Characters in Chiew-Siah Tei’s Novel set in Imperial China
Aug 4, 2008
Half-brothers Mingzhi and Mingyuan are the focus of Chiew-Siah Tei’s debut novel Little Hut of Leaping Fishes (Picador, 2008). Several significant female characters add depth to the themes explored, particularly the role and influence of women in Imperial China, as the novel focuses the changing face of China at the end of the 19th century.
The Influence of Mothers
Mingzhi and Mingyuan are significantly influenced by the character traits modelled by their mothers. While their time is directed by their grandfather, each women shapes the character and priorities of her son with very different results.
Mingzhi’s mother, Da Niang, is gentle and prayerful, focusing on her son’s well-being and quietly performing her duties towards her indifferent husband and demanding father-in-law. She offers her son comfort and affection within the limits imposed by family rituals and expectations. Her prayers and acts of affection, such as handmade gifts and supplies of birds nest soup, demonstrate her desire to offer encouragement and support.
Mingyuan’s mother, Er Niang, is ambitious and immature. She regularly pushes Mingyuan into the foreground, instilling in him a belief in his own superiority. She is dismayed that he remains in his older brother’s shadow. The discovery of her affair with a travelling actor and disappearance to avoid punishment drives a permanent wedge between the two brothers, with tragic consequences in later years.
Powerless and without influence in the family home, Da Niang responds with a tender heart while Er Niang encourages jealousy and revenge. Both women are extremely influential in shaping the men that their son’s become and their relationship and attitude towards each other.
Meilian and Meifong
Mingzhi’s older sisters, Meilian and Meifong, are largely disregarded by their grandfather. He considers Meifong’s death as a child as a bad omen for his family and denies her the right to be buried in the family cemetary. Her significance to her brother, sister and mother is completely disregarded.
In response to the bad omen of Meifong’s death, Meilian is immediately offered in marriage to establish a connection between Master Chai and another family of influence. Her own wishes and fears are disregarded and she is married within a month, rarely having contact with her family after the ceremony.
When Meilian re-enters Mingzhi’s life later in the novel, his attitude towards her and efforts to improve her life demonstrate how his own attitude to women differs from that of his grandfather and father. The disregard for the emotions and well-being of Meilian and Meifong within their own home and his own affection for his sisters creates in Mingzhi a desire to see women treated with more honour and value in his own life.
Marriage for Mingzhi
Mingzhi’s first love is for the beautiful Jasmine, a young girl who fascinates him but remains beyond his reach. A marriage is eventually arranged for him against his will, but he finds great comfort and delight in his relationship with his wife.
The tragic death of his wife is a turning point for Mingzhi in his relationship with his grandfather and the memory of what she has meant to him gives him the confidence to refuse to submit to the old man’s attempts to direct his behaviour and decisions.
The Role and Influence of Women in Imperial China
Mingzhi’s relationships with his mother, sisters and wife empowers him to step out from under the corrupting and smothering influence of his grandfather. While Mingyuan allows his mother’s bitterness to undermine his own character, Mingzhi draws strength from the significant women in his life and their influence develops within him a committed to caring for those for whom he is responsible, both male and female.
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