Egyptian (Muslim) Society vs Chinese (Confucian) Society - Essay Example

Comparison between Egyptian/Muslim society and Chinese/Confucian society. The timeless tale of a woman, in any society is a reflection of the wholerange of experiences which she has undergone, and it does not differ greatly whether it is 20th century Egyptian women of Muslim culture or the 17th century Chinese women of Confucian culture. The pain and the anguish to which they are exposed is the same. The differentiation lies more in the feminist and male dominant society rather than the geographical region. The relationship between the man and the woman surpasses all geographical boundaries, cultural barriers and religious beliefs, as their suffering is the same regardless of their caste, creed and culture. It is complex play of power and dominance over the weaker defenseless sex, for superiority and satisfaction. The relationship between man and woman, and the significant role that a woman plays to keep the social and the family scene moving accounts for the hidden power with which women perform her duties regardless of time and age, in 20th century Muslim society or 17th century Chinese society. Men reserved the right to betray, women remained faithful, virtuous and honorable before marriage and even after husbands death. In Alifa Rifaats collection of short stories "Distant View of Minaret" dealing with 20th century Muslim women in Egypt, the reference is to the issues related to woman's suffrage in contemporary Egypt. In the story "Distant View of Minaret" the reference in that context is to lack of privileges, rights, and gender roles and expectations facing woman. Or even simply the basic "Men being in control of woman." However, two unexpected issues are brought up in her book and both are reflected in this story. The first being sex and the second being death.(Rifaat) In this story, she describes the sexual suppression and deprivation of a young married woman. She had long forgotten her desires, needs, and urges. She had adopted a passive role not only in the family lifestyle but in the bedroom as well. "The last time she made such an attempt, so desperate was she at this critical moment that she had dug her fingernails into his back compelling him to remain inside her." ((Rifaat p. 2) The story then goes onto explains how her husband pushes her away and screams at her as though she was trying to kill him. After this failed attempt to pursue her passion she began to feel as though she was asking too much and belittled herself. It made her feel ashamed and embarrassed to even think about the act. Later in the story it points out other occasions where her husband would suppress her urges purposely. "But on each occasion, when breathlessly imploring him to continue, he would-as though purposely to deprive her-quicken his movements and bring the act to an abrupt end." (Rifaat) The act that is supposed to involve two people in passion suddenly dissolves to one.(Rifaat) In his book "The Death of Woman Wang" Jonathan D. Spence projects the life of the rural China in seventeenth century, when the ideologies of Confucius was very strong on the society. The story is about a woman, Wang, who has an illicit affair with a man and she runs away with him. The adultery is dealt very harshly in Chinese society. The husband had the right to punish, penalize or even kill the man as well as the wife. Wang is finally tracked own and returned to her husband, and is finally killed in her own bed by her husband for the disgrace. The projection of the position and the role of the woman in the Chinese society at that time is illustrated revealing the status and position of the woman in the Chinese Confucian society. The story of is the central essence of the book, though it is revealed much later in the book, the picture which is revealed is of village life in T'an-ch'eng, the people, society, their everyday life and interactions between the people in the community. The role of marriage and the transformation which a woman goes through to keep her marriage is one of the key issues emphasized in both the stories "Distant View of Minaret" by Alifa Rifaat as well as Jonathan Spence's "The Death of Woman Wang". The essential role of marriage in the history of nations and the emergence of the society has very deep impact on the complexity of the relationships within the framework of marriage. The Egyptian 20th century Muslim society places an important role to the institution of marriage and the passive role of the women in inferior position as revealed in "Distant View of Minaret" focusing on the lives and the experiences of women relating to oppression and sexuality. The 17th century Confucian society was held together by rigid rules of discrimination. The whole range of factors indicate that men in the society played a dominant role whereas women are submissive and subjugated, and even tortured and killed at the hands of their legal owner: Man. The society as depicted in the Egyptian Muslim society as well as Chinese Confucian society, gives man a dominant role. Women are placed under the social system and law in inferior position playing the role of a puppet in the hands of the man she is married to, strung by the chord of kids whose welfare becomes the sole reason for her existence. Women are tested under adverse and trying circumstances to obedience, brutality and betrayal; still confined within her role she has to remain loyal and faithful to her man. Before marriage she is prepared for life after marriage, and after marriage she has to give up all rights and privileges. It seems like within marriage, her most significant role is as a mother, it does not matter whether she is emotionally happy, sexually satisfied or physically abused. Women are the pillars of the existence of the society, how can she be exposed to such discrimination and injustice. The stories of Alifa Rifaat, almost all of them give an account of the difficulties faced by the women in Muslim society even in the 20th century. The economic progress and the historical emergence have not improved the status of the women in these countries. They grow up with the same struggle for existence, in the inferior male dominant society. They are confined within the limited role defined by the men of the society as a mother, sister and wife. This has not changed for ages, regardless of passage of time, progress and development. Every encounter within the story is unique, Alifa Rifaat's Distant View of A Minaret is a a powerful testament to the strength and fortitude of women despite difficult and trying circumstances. It is a startlingly honest collection of short stories allowing a rare glimpse into the lives, hearts and experience of Arab women living in Egypt. Throughout these stories, Rifaat maintains the common thread of two universal subjects, sex and death, and the ways that Arab women from various backgrounds and experiences deal with the complexities associated with these themes. Whereas, Spence has given a rich, detailed study of social and intellectual history in his book "Death of Woman Wang", "The central motif in the book is the contrast between the misery and the wretchedness of rural life -especially for women- and its few brilliant moments of sensuality, imagination, and fantasy" (Cass 550-552 ). Spence wrote about a rural place in China named T'an-ch'eng. Using the compilations of The Local History of T'an-ch'eng, the government role was non protective towards women. The description of the women in China, reveals the role of the government, society, agriculture and economy. Women were regarded as inferior object, with limited role for expression and freedom. Though she did have qualities which society recognized as powerful. The superiority of the women was inherent in her possession of virtue. A woman was considered honorable if she fulfilled her defined role by the society through her conduct and actions. She was to overcome the varying obstacles in her life to prove her worth as a superior woman. If she could not overcome and struggle through the adversities and the challenges, she was legally and socially prosecuted by the Chinese law. The virtues "chastity, courage, tenacity, and unquestioning acceptance of the prevailing hierarchy - unto death if necessary" ((Spence pg. 100). The women had well defined role to be groomed for marriage, give offspring and survive as a widow. Spence's "Death of Woman Wang", gives a very lucid account of what a widow had to face in order to survive. A very respectable and honorable aspect of woman's role was loyalty to her husband, which motivated many Chinese women to remain a widow even after her husband, was deceased. But in many instances the relatives forced her to marry for economic reasons concerning possession of property and wealth. Women needed the superior strength to overcome such pressures as woman Kao (Spence pg.71) was able. Women are vulnerable as a widow, for abuse by the family, no protection from the society and the pressures of low income and running the family. She is the ragged doll to be tossed around by people. Her interests are not safeguarded. She was dependant before and she is dependant now with even more obstacles of the economic burden. History has not changed her situation for betterment. If she overcomes her obstacles she is successful and if she does not, she is a failure. The historical texts dull or dry, the ideas and situations "The Death of Woman Wang" confronts are timeless and universal. These stories are soul searching and stimulation for the thought, giving a very vivid account of the miserable state of women narrated in the form of the story set in the 17th century Chinese village Tan-Cheng connecting the present world readers with the history of Chinese Confucian society. The history and the role of the government are very boldly accounted with live description, of pain and anguish, love and hatred, death and life as led by women in the society. The stories in Alifa Rifaat's Distant View of A Minaret, expresses the emotions, experiences and the journey of what it means to be an Arab woman. The inherent strength of women forms an unbreakable bond that links generations of female hearts and minds together despite physical, cultural, and religious borders. Though the stories convey a sense of darkness, hopelessness, or sadness, they are no doubt a realistic and insightful journey into the human experience. In spite of her obstacles, which are timeless and region less, women play a very important role in shaping society, as the pillar of strength supporting her wayward men, controlling and nurturing her demanding children and standing up to her demands from the society. Work Cited Cass, Victoria B.. "The Death of Woman Wang.." The Journal of Asian Studies (1980): 550-552 ( Cass 550-552 ) Rifaat, Alifa. Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories (African Writers Series No. 271). Heinemann , 1987. (Rifaat ) Spence, Jonathan D.. The death of Woman Wang. Penguin USA, 1979. ( Spence ) ( Spence ) Read More