Tie Ning's Octday - Research Paper Example

Critical Analysis of Tie Ning’s Story “Octday” of Learning Critical Analysis of Tie Ning’s Story “Octday” In her work, theauthor gives a critical assessment of the social prejudices against divorced women in modern China. In particular, the author points out that divorce is viewed as an extremely negative phenomenon that affects primarily the life of a divorced woman. When other people find out about one’s divorce, they immediately start to feel pity towards the divorced woman. All this is due to the fact that the divorced woman is viewed as a woman who is forced to think about her future life.

Chinese society does not take into account the fact that the divorce can be initiated by the wife, not by the husband. In most cases, other people feel that the man is the initiator of the divorce, including for the simple reason that his wife is no longer of interest for him. In other words, the husband no longer wants his wife, and for this reason, he breaks the relationship with her. Divorced women are seen as victims of their husbands’ indifferent attitude. That is why “the sympathy was naturally for Xiaofen’s divorce” though the woman “tried to explain that her husband was to blame, that it was she had sought a divorce” (Ning 431).

Such women primarily cause a feeling of pity and concern for their fate. No one wants to understand that divorce can bring a woman far more opportunities than her marriage with a man whom she does not love. A divorced woman is seen as constantly being in a state of depression. Her appearance is also perceived as a result of the negative impact of the divorce, even if it actually has remained the same as in the situation with Zhu Xiaofen whose “complexion was fine, her lips pink and healthy…” (433).

In fact, Zhu Xiaofen “felt great – young and happy and ready to jump ‘the double twist’…” (431). Thus, the author is critical of these social prejudices against divorced women, believing that divorce should not be regarded as a tragedy for women. In some cases, divorce may be the beginning of a happy life for the woman.Work CitedNing, Tie. Octday. n.d. Web. 12 May 2015.