OBRAZ KOBIETY-MATKI W WYBRANEJ WSPÓŁCZESNEJ PROZIE CHIŃSKIEJ
IMAGE OF A WOMAN-MOTHER IN THE CHINESE CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to present different images of mothers in selected Chinese contemporary literature, such as: Snow flower and the secret fan, Peony in Love, The Concubine’s Daughter, and Pearl of China. In these novels, China is portrayed as a country of privileges for men and sanctions against women. Since childhood, women had beenprepared for the role of submissive wives and mothers of male heirs. This article discusses the strength, energy, and great spiritual power of women-mothers – which contrary to the cultural limitations – enabled their female descendants to believe in their own value. Several images of mothers have been portrayed: (1) mother radically obeying traditions, (2) a sensitive mother, (3) a friendly mother, and (4) a heroic mother. This paper claims that daughters, through their stories, paid homage to their mothers who risked their lives and livelihood in the patriarchal culture of China.

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