Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Essay Example

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See When I first read this book, I didn’t think there was a way to analyze it without retelling the story.I have spent many nights trying to figure the meaning, because there are so many. Then it finally hit me after I walked away from the book the true meaning. This is about Lily who is now eighty years old and she is writing a memoir. She is trying to make amends to the people that she believed betrayed her over the years. She has spent her later parts of her years filled with regrets and misery. She only wanted love in her lifetime, but now as she is growing old realizes she had it. She was blinded by the truth that lay before her. She has nothing but time left to think about her life. She remembers how she felt when she was seven years old and was match with an “old same’ named Snow Flower. An “old same” is a life-long match and is truly the only choice a girl can make, since her life is predetermined at an early age. . It was much more meaningful than a marriage, because they were arranged (Peyton). When Lily got her first message from Snow Flower on a fan in “nu shu”, she was so excited her aunt helped her read what was written. Snow Flower wrote “I understand there is a girl of good character and women’s[sic] learning in your home. You and I are the same year and same days. Could we not be sames together?” It was a simple fan in the beginning with a garland of leaves adorning the upper edge and only one message (See). When they met they went to the Temple of Gupo to make a contract to one another to be friends for life. The two girls were so happy to finally have someone to care about them, because girls are considered worthless. They can only become a person of value if they are obedient to their husbands, their mother-in-laws and can bear a son. They can only for perfect “golden lily” feet in order to marry well. This is obtained through the painful process of foot-binding (Peyton). They are the best of friends and share everything with one another or so Lily thinks. Lily is from an average family, while Snow Flower is from a wealthier family in another village. After Lily marries into a good family, she finally gets to go to Snow Flower’s house. When Lily arrives she learns the truth about Snow Flower’s once prominent family. She feels betrayed that her “old same” didn’t trust her enough to tell her the truth. Lily didn’t stop to think that Snow Flower was ashamed of her situation. Most of us would be embarrassed to tell our best friends that our father was addicted to opium and lost the family’s money. Lily did forgive her and asked her not to lie to her again. Once they both were married and had sons they rejoiced in “nu shu” their good fortune. Snow Flower wrote to Lily how get her life was and hope Lily’s was the same. When they finally met again, they saw each other’s sons and were happy. At least this is what Lily thought and Snow Flower was already pregnant again. When Snow Flower did give birth a second time it was to a stillborn girl. She wrote to Lily in “nu shu” about her sorrow and Lily told her to keep trying and to be more obedient to her new family. Lily didn’t realize she was causing her “old same” great sadness. After they had both had more children, Lily husband let her visit Snow Flower against his better judgment. When Lily arrived they had to leave, because of a rebellion. Lily longed for her family, but was glad to be with Snow Flower. Lily had three sons and a daughter, while Snow Flower had two sons and a daughter. They wanted their girls to be “old same”. While on the mountain, Snow Flower became pregnant again. It was short lived because her second son that was five died. When this occurred Snow Flowers husband beat her and caused what they thought was a miscarriage. Lily was appalled that Snow Flower didn’t tell her that her husband beat her on a regular basis. Again Lily felt she had been lied to, but when Snow Flower became despondent Lily never left her side. When Snow Flower would share her feelings, Lily would respond that she needed to be a better wife, mother and daughter-in-law. She never stopped to think about how Snow Flower really felt. When they returned home Lily was thankful that her family had survived. She received another fan with “nu shu” on it and when she opened it got angry. She thought it said that Snow Flower had taken sworn sisters who loved her as she was. Lily began to burned everything Snow Flower had given her and cut her out of her life. She never wrote her back and when letters came, she wouldn’t read them. Finally when she did see Snow Flower at cousins wedding preparations, Lily didn’t speak. Snow Flower began to chant asking Lily why she hated her. Lily began to chant back to her telling everyone in the room about Snow Flower’s life and ruined her reputation throughout the land. Snow Flower left and Lily became a bitter and hateful hearted woman on the inside (Kelly). Years had passed before Snow Flowers daughter Spring Moon came to Lady Lu’s house. She told Lady Lu her mother had been sick for years and wanted to see her “old same”. Lady Lu went to Snow Flower’s house, because a woman of her importance wouldn’t want people to think otherwise. She arrived with hate in her heart, but when she saw Snow Flower the deep love came flooding back. She learned that Snow Flower had a tumor that began to grow, while they were on the mountain. Snow Flower’s supposedly sworn sisters were there too. Lady Lu brought in a doctor and a diviner to try to make her “old same” better, but it was too late. Lady Lu stayed with Snow Flower and promised to look after her children. Lady Lu didn’t leave her side until she died. After Snow Flower died, her supposedly sworn sister’s told Lady Lu that she had been true to her and was teaching them “nu shu”. Lady Lu then saw the fan and realized that Snow Flower had loved her the way she had promised. It was Lady Lu that broke the bond. Lady Lu was heartbroken and spent the rest of her life trying to bring honor back to Snow Flower’s family. Lady Lu hired Snow Flower’s son to collect the rent owed to tell and gave him a house. She even took it a step further and had it arranged so that her grandson would marry Snow Flower’s granddaughter. She thought that by mixing their blood for eternity it would make everything right again. She spent the rest of her life trying to make it up to Snow Flower. She was the person who had wronged her “old same”. She didn’t realize that she was not comforting Snow Flower when she needed it the most and was constantly putting her down. We all have regrets in life, but this book teaches us that love is right before our eyes. Lady Lu didn’t realize all she had until it was gone. We often do that in the present day. You should spend more time being a listener and less time being judgmental. We should be thankful for what we have, because in a blink of an eye we can lose it all. Works Cited Kelly, Susan. "Snow Flower Untold Secrets." 2005 July 2005. USA Today. 27 November 2010 . Peyton, Sara. ""Bound by Oppression and Secret Tonuge"." 3 July 2005. San Franciso Chronicle. 27 November 2010 . See, Lisa. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. New York: Random House, Inc., 2005. Read More