In Broad Daylight by Ha Jin - Essay Example

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF “IN BROAD DAYLIGHT” Introduction Can government control sexual activities by punishing those who practice it without exposing or making young people know of what happens? In Ha Jin story of “In Broad Light” he explains how government tried to regulate immoral sexual activities by posing severe punishment to those who practice it through a woman, Mu Ying and her husband, Meng Su. “In Broad Daylight” is a story about Mu Ying, who was Old Whore. Mu sleeps with different men; an officer, a farmer and a Red Guard in several times. She is publicly paraded and denounced by the Red Guards to the community. The red guards travelled from another city to come and punish her because people from the community could not treat her roughly. Meng Su, her dwarf husband, tries to deliver her from public embarrassment, only to be embarrassed by her wife and the Red guards and lastly found hit by train and Mu Ying is at the bus stop lying alone crying for help and to be taken home. The narrator is young in age due to his limited knowledge, problematic value-scheme and limited knowledge, which are the sources of uncertainty. With these criteria, a young narrator will be limited to knowledge and his reliability and therefore the reader is most likely to doubt the flow of the story. The children thought that it would be best if Mu could parade every street, which clearly shows an empty of mind of a young age person .The death of Meng Su makes the narrator to complain about the violence of the world of adult. One can hear the narrator saying“All the adults burst out laughing”(Jin 84, Ln27), hence proving the fact that the narrator is young. “Antagonist” is a straight cut used by Ha Jin as a reading pleasure by many readers. Its plot flows smoothly and makes the reader understand the story without inquiring about the outcome. To solve the mystery of knowing the setting of the story, Ha Jin creates circumstances that become meaningful to the reader. He brings out historical setting which consists of social, cultural and political elements to influence the story line. The narrator grandmother explains how such behaviors were punished in the old times. The story is derived from the thought of an innocent, naive boy, Nicknamed white cat. Ha Jin portrays it when the Chinese woman stands up for her sexuality with a self-awakening feminist consciousness through untainted and authentic. The first turning point was when Mu Ying started confessing after being questioned about her crimes of adultery with the three men. Mu comes to a point where she describes her sexual need and explains the feeling of wanting a man to hold her with his strong arm very comprehensive. Bare Hips mother confronts her and tells her that she has a husband who does not lack a leg or an arm and therefore it is wrong to want another man .Mu Ying explains “He always comes before I feel anything" (Jin, 84, Ln 26). The naïve narrator could not understand even after Bare Hips explained the phrase. Ha Jin story concerns a moral issue through straight characterization of an active character of a married woman named Mu and her husband Meng. The community thinks Mu is a prostitute since she engaged sexual activities with men for money and Red guards were to punish her. In this story, her husband, Meng Su has a static character. Meng tried to protect his wife from being punished and begged the Guards to give her second chance to change her behaviours even though he knew his wife was responsible for the immoral behavior the community accused her about. Meng tried to blame himself saying “Please dont take her away. Its my fault. I havent disciplined her well. Please give her a chance to be a new person. I promise, she wont do it again"(Jin, 82, Ln 30-31). Nevertheless, he committed suicide because he realized he was not good enough for her. Mu was recognized as “Old Whore” who existed on external way .Anyone who was aware of her extra marital earnings hated her except her husband who loved her so much. People hated her because of sleeping randomly with men. Even though, her husband knew his wife was not morally upright he still loved her, and Mu knew. When Red Guards visited her doorsteps from Dalian City marked the downfall of Mu’s life. Mu was flicked away to be disciplined for her immoral actions. Mu’s dynamic character showed up when she was being taken to be punished and questioned for her actions. She had an undisturbed attitude even though she knew death penalty was a possible punishment, “ While most of the women had sallow faces, hers looked white and healthy like fresh milk” (Jin,82, Ln 10-11). Being a central focus of the community scolding, Mu seemed to be very calm when she was caught at her home. She did not say a word or complain, but tagged on the Red Guards quietly into West Street. Even when she was being questioned she did not hesitate in answering, and she was very calm and answered honestly with no fear despite the blows she got from the crowd. Jin shows the conflict between human values and controlled society in that the story happened in China in 1960’s where women are not open to sex according to traditional Chinese culture. On the contrary, in the West, sexual rights were considered fundamental human rights. Mu Ying behavior was denounced and punished in public. On the other hand, sex is considered as a private issue in the west and those practicing adulterer are not in the public. Mu speech also does not go along with the cultural values of China in 1960s, about sex, "All right, it was wrong to sleep with them. But you all know what it feels like when you want a man, dont you? Dont you once in a while have that feeling in your bones?"(Jin, 84,Ln 10-12) and she further expalains "Oh, you want that real man to have you in his arms and let him touch every part of your body. For that man alone you want to blossom into a woman, a real woman"(Jin, 84, Ln 14-16). In the traditional Chinese society, it is not respectful for a woman to embarrass her husband in public according to male superiority but Mu’s says, "My man is nothing. He is no good, I mean in bed. He always comes before I feel anything" (Jin 84, Ln 25-26). Discrimination is symbolized when, the husband was aware of his wife behavior, and he did not report her or punish and yet the Red Guards did not punish him. Meng asked the guards to forgive her because it was also his fault and gave her a second chance, but they could not listen to him. Mu claimed that she slept with one of the Red Guard who even did not pay her. The Red Guard punished her because of sleeping with men yet she slept with one of them who took advantage of her but Mu was the one claimed as the poison. Therefore, women are discriminated in the setting of the story and claimed to be evil than men. Conclusion. “In Broad Daylight” The narrator tries to help the reader understand the conflicts human values and the society. Mu represents the immoral behaviors in the community and how the government tries to control them. Its main point of view is the naïve narrator, and it set in a way that anyone can understand the story without questioning. Work Cited Jin, Ha. "In Broad Daylight." The Kenyon Review 1993: 80-89. JSTOR Journals. Web. 8 Sept. 2014. Read More