I.R.#2-The Woman Warrior:Reader Response #2 of 4

          I'm finally getting to realize what's going on here. It's not just a story that Maxine Kingston is making up for the sake of telling stories, but stories that are involved within her own family and traditional, old China.
      
           Continuing from my previous response from the 1st section of my book to this second one, I see that the stories spoken transition from Kingston's family; her aunt, to the warrior Fa Mu Lan. Then it goes into more talk amongst Kingston and her mother. As I read, I felt as if Kingston, and probably many other Chinese girls in expectational families feel a certain pressure to keep the Chinese tradition and values alive; especially because shame on the family can happen as easily as attracting someone with sexuality and committing the act. I do agree with the expectations, for one. I also like how Kingston goes into these modes of Chinese fantasies- the example: she dreams and places herself in the position of Fa Mu Lan. As the girl narrating the story, Kingston feels the importance to keep shame away from her family and to stray away from the path that her aunt took.
        
          I came across the lines in the story that spoke if it being better to raise geese than girls. I believe this is because Chinese men could become warriors. There was nothing much that a girl could do but house work, farming, or producing children. And I thought, if I were in this position, at least a girl in old China, I would be... quite ashamed to even step foot out of my home if that's what my elders or authority thought of my person. However, in unlike fashion, Kingston moved along telling stories with pride. I was greatly astonished when Kingston was fantasizing of her life as a warrior. When she told her parents, they had both taken her to a place in the house that was secluded. Her mother had her remove her shirt, and her father looked away. Knowing that she was going to war, they carved the names of revenge on her back! I questioned, "How could they do such a thing to their daughter?!" but I figured it's China, and that is some kind of sacrifice or duty of honor. I saw, that as a warrior, the girl felt honor, whereas being a daughter brought into a Chinese family was somewhat a disappointment. I didn't like this.

          I could say that throughout this second section of the book (from my division), I was very appreciative of all the pictures that flooded my mind. I like how the author, Kingston, used lots of descriptive words that painted the scenes as I read. It was very nice. Every time I pick up the book and begin reading again it's like a whole new experience.