Common Words to Warn the World - Book Report/Review Example

This is a story which was written during the sixteenth century by the renowned Chinese vernacular Feng Meng-long. This story is taken from Feng's collection: "Common Words to Warn the World". The story basically revolves around two prominent characters, a courtesan or prostitute named Mei Du and a young and privileged man named Jia Li. He was the third son of the Provincial Commissioner; he was enrolled as an academic scholar in the Academy of the Northern capital. Instead of concentrating in his studies he indulged himself in the pleasures of the courtesan and became highly spendthrift. They both fell in love and the lady who owned Du set the criteria that she could be released in exchange of some money. Eventually they do pay the money and head towards Jia's home, but low self-confidence, doubt and lack of foresight cause a disastrous damage to their relationship which ends in great tragedy. All through the story we see that money is the main key factor and it changes the course of the story just when we see that all seems to be perfect. Characters: 1. Li: The academy scholar who loved Du 2. Du: Famous courtesan 3.Liu: Townsman and fellow scholar of Li 4. Sun Fu: Academic scholar who falls for Du and arranges to trade her with Li. 5. Madam: The old lady who owned the quarter where Du worked as a courtesan. Money is the very basic and most important aspect to support and ensure the smooth running of any relationship. Even though many of us don't agree to this truth, in the deepest corner of our brain we do support this concept. We can see clearly in this story how love brought bright colors into the lives of Li and Du, we also witness how the lack of money faded all the colors as soon as it had come. In the story we see that Du is a very famous courtesan. She possessed heavenly beauty that intoxicated many men and led them to squander away huge amounts of wealth for her company. Things were running smooth as long as master Li had not come into picture. Like other men Li was also bedazzled by her charm and beauty, even though Du was a courtesan she always longed to quit the inferior job and move out in life with a man who truly loved her and would set her free from that place. When master Li came into the picture both he and Du had substantial feelings for each other, we see that the master spend lavishly to get her company and she desired his company too and loathed engaging other men. When things seemed to be perfect in came the villain: Money, soon master Li was drained of all his resources and had no means to pay for the company with Du. So far in the story we see that money had a very potential role to play in the development of a love relationship. The introduction of Li to Du was through money, if Li didn't have the means to spend then he would never be capable of encountering a beauty like Du. The madam that Du worked for also was pleased and engaged Li with Du as she was herself gaining immensely from the affair. As the master had enough money to spend Du also got to see him a lot and eventually their love grew to monstrous heights. Even though Du was truly in love with Li her profession did not allow her to engage in emotions and as a result she started avoiding the other people seeking her company. Money again posed as potential threat to their relationship when master Li spend all his money, this is when the madam who was so willingly engaging them started rebuking the master for seeking company with empty hands. Even though Du's attitude grew warmer towards Li in his poor conditions, the madam's attitude grew harsh. She tried to convince Du that the master was no good without money to spend by saying: "In our profession we rely on our guests for both our food and clothing, we see off the old at the back gate and welcome new at the front. Our forecourt stays as lively as a house on fire and money piles up in a heap".(page ). Even though Du tried to explain and remind how master Li had spent earlier, from the point of view of the madam it was of no use because what he spent earlier was not enough to keep the lamps in her court burning now. The madam knew the limited means of the master so she made a deal with Du that he could buy her off her in exchange of three thousand taels in silver in three days, but Du knowing the poor state of Li negotiated the time to ten days. The other hindrance on their path of love was master Li's great fear for his father. The old man was aware of his son's activities and strongly condemned them. Master Li was completely dependent on his family and father for the barest need of life. By this incident also we can derive how important it is to be financially stable to prosper and lead a fruitful and worthy love life. If master Li was a strong and financially independent man he could first of all free the lady he loved from the unwanted place and secondly he could have the ability to discuss the issue with his father. It is clear that a man who is unable to support himself efficiently will be equally inefficient in supporting anyone he falls in love with. Next we see in the story that master Li makes a plan to bluff and fool his friends and relatives by borrowing money from them in the name of travel expenses for going home, and pay that amount to the madam to release Du as decided. All his friends and relatives were glad alike to know that he had finally decided to go home, same time they did not reply in good vibe to the idea of borrowing money, as the saying goes, "The mention of money dissolves predestined ties"(page 840). They had their good reasons too to deny him money, they all doubted that he would spend it in pleasure again and by helping him with money they would strain their good relationship with his father. When his relatives and friends did not give any hope and he was out of accommodation and time, he went to the lodging of one of the fellowman Liu Yu-chun who was a scholar at the academy. When Liu became aware of Li's condition he concluded that Du was the most desirable courtesan around and that this deal was just a trick of her and her madam to get rid of Li without creating complications and a huge humiliation for the master because it was he to blame if he couldn't raise the money, even though he was given a fair opportunity. On the other hand Du was faithful to Li and was eagerly awaiting his return with the money, but when he didn't show up after considerable time she had her servant bring him to her quarter. When Du asked Li about the progress of his plans Li gave a very apt comparison by saying that: "Catching tigers cannot be considered easy but begging favors is what is truly hard" (page 841). When Du saw that Li had indeed not got any of the decided amount she saw her freedom endangered, so she decided to share the responsibility by paying half the sum and Li was to arrange for the other half. Here we see that money is the dominant factor when development or maintaining a relationship or love is concerned. Deciding so Du gave him the half of the money and asked him to arrange for the rest soon. Li went straight to his friend Liu to show him the true intentions of Du, who in turn got convinced and also decided to help them in their true love for each other and to make their plan a success. Liu as a true and sympathetic friend borrowed money and helped Li collect his part of the money which along with Du's came up to the decided amount. At this point Li was tremendously happy but his thoughts did not see the far, this money was enough to release Du but not to lead a complete life with her as he lacked any money of his own and also any source of income to keep them alive. However he set free and they planned to go back to Li's family and try to convince them to accept Du. What Li lacked here is that he should have had an alternate path or accommodation incase his family did not accept Du and he wanted to lead his life with her. For all this he again needed a considerable amount of money which he lacked, so we see how important money is to keep love alive and breathing. Li with all his happiness and the collected money went to meet Du and hand over the money to the madam. Du then said that she had borrowed some money to cover the travel expenses on the way home, the thought had struck Li too but he dared not speak of it. However after paying the old madam the promised money they were thrown out of the quarters without any clothes or jewelry except whatever was on them. Du then wished to say good bye and thank all the other courtesans who had helped her in despair. When she went to meet them they dressed her in expensive dresses and gold and costly stones and jewelry. They also vowed to help her with money to set up her future life as they knew her condition and the problem they faced due to lack of money. Now that both the lovers were together they faced the question as to where shall they settle after departing from there They both decided it was a good idea to setup Du in the beautiful scenic region of Su-zhou and Hang-zhou and Li would return to his father and convince him with the help of his friends and relatives and then they both should return together to Li's family. This seemed like a perfect and working plan but the only constraint was money, they required a lot of money to make the plan work. Then they both went to meet Liu and collect their luggage and thank him for his effort. When Du thanked him earnestly, he said that he only helped and was moved by her love for Li which did not change in spite of his poverty. Here we see that money and love are very closely related. After this on the day of their journey all the other courtesans presented Du with a gold inlaid locked box which contained money and means to help her on the way to her new life. They traveled some part of their journey by land and then took to water to complete the rest of the part. Li now had no money left to pay for the boat and when Du offered to help from the collection given to her by the other courtesans, he felt ashamed of himself. But he had no other way other than to accept her help. Slowly they made part of their journey in a big boat, but there was no privacy for the love birds. Next they took to a small private boat to complete the rest of the journey. They had this boat all to themselves and that made them comfortable and happy. Li asked Du to sing one of her songs that took his heart away when he first heard her at the quarters. Du sang and crooned in the sweetest voice, and enjoyed all the privacy. Their boat was set to sail the next morning. Another young man named Sun Fu was in boat next to theirs and was fortunate to hear her sing. Sun Fu was also enrolled as a scholar in an academy and was very popular as having a colorful and flamboyant character and a way with women. He also sought pleasure in the quarters of the courtesans. Sun Fu's family was in the salt business and had made a huge fortune it that. So we can say that he was a rich and glamorous fellow and ready to spend generously on worthy things. Sun Fu enquired who was occupying the neighboring boat he was made aware of Master Li and that the background of the singer was unknown. Accustomed to the songs of the courtesans he knew she was not of respectable background. Eventually Sun Fu got a glimpse of the singer, Du and was overwhelmed by her stunning beauty. He tried to see her more and pondered over the way or the idea to mingle with Li so as to know about her. He some how worked out a plan and befriended Li, they both went to the banks for a drink and eventually Li told him the entire story of Du's background and how they managed to get away from there and their anxiety as to what shall happen once they reach Li's home and family. Li made the grave mistake by laying his weak points and wounds bare in front of Sun who in chance took advantage of the situation. Sun made Li realize that he had limited means and that to survive away from the family until they accept Du and him was a matter of great expenditure. Li who was already troubled by the thought of lack of money was now troubled even more. Sun also made it clear to him that none of his friends or family members will accept him because of this humiliating act. He also said that once he is completely drained he shall have no where to turn to neither his nor parents nor his wife Du will respect him. Sun also said that Du with her background was not a woman to be trusted. Once he had taken Li into his confidence and made him realize how helpless he was, he offered to help him in his despair. Liu proposed to Li that his father was angry with him because he had squandered all his money in the pleasure quarters, so he proposed to help him with a thousand taels in silver in exchange of Du. He tried to show him the brighter aspect that his family will be happy that he had not spend all the money as waste and eventually they will accept Du also in the family. We see here that Li is not only a man of limited means he is also a man with limited brain and judging power. As the saying goes: " With strangers say a third of what you think; don't throw away all your heart's designs"(page 852). When Li came back to his boat and discussed the matter and his thoughts with Du she got the bigger picture. She gave consent to the deal and agreed to do it the next morning. When all the money was exchanged she opened the gold inlaid box and inside it were silver taels in thousands, precious stones, pearls, ancient purple gold, jade and all sorts of precious treasures. She took out the drawers one by one containing the treasure and threw them in the water. She then told Li the truth that she had saved all this for her old age and that she intended to set him up in decent style so that he didn't have to feel ashamed in front of his parents. Finally she says that she never expected him to cast her aside after making all the vows and just for the fear of being abandoned by his family. Saying so she clutches the box and dives into the river and kills herself. From this we can see and derive how important money is for the beginning, development, and end of a relationship. All the problems that arose in the relationship between Du and Li was chiefly due to money. If on the other hand Li would have been financially sound and a strong man with a steady source of income then the relationship would not see such rough grounds. The lack of money spread like a disease and slowly but steadily impaired Li's thinking and judging power. It also made him apparently blind as he could not see the love Du had for him instead, he relied upon a stranger Sun and accepted his ideas. Li should have trusted Du and mostly himself that they could face and solve all the problems together. But most important he should not have taken up such a great risk and responsibility on his inefficient and weak shoulders. Read More