Is the Chen House a huge metaphor for this society?

Okey 2022-04-24 07:01:24

The film has been studied by many, and the finely polished details and shots have stood the test of time. Many people have paid attention to the symbols and metaphors behind hanging lanterns, kicking feet, roof huts, etc. However I want to say something different.

The most shocking thing about this story is that the expressions of all the people are indifferent and cold, as if the death of one or two servants and aunt has nothing to do with them. The most humane and compassionate in the whole film is only The old mother who served Songlian. Song Lian, a newcomer, and the third concubine, a former actress, once showed a little bit of humanity, and then they all brutally forced themselves to change to "fit into society". I originally thought that there would be a little bit of a story between Song Lian and the eldest young master, but no, fortunately not, otherwise the hut on the roof would be Song Lian's home.

Isn't this Chen Mansion, with its bright appearance, a huge metaphor for Chinese society? Everything went on in an orderly manner, closely matched, hierarchical, highly competitive (the fourth aunt is too crazy, the fifth aunt is too top), but it lacks warmth and humanity. Those in authority enjoy it freely (the privilege of lighting a lamp), and those in the chain of interests execute it mechanically (lighting the lantern, extinguishing the lantern). Only those at the bottom can pity each other, but only pity. Thinking of this, I shudder.

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Extended Reading
  • Blanche 2022-03-22 09:02:50

    "Lighting the lights, turning off the lights, sealing the lights" is undoubtedly a tragedy for women in that era. This is a film without spring. The atmosphere in the film reveals Songlian's helplessness, fear and despair. In the end, she was persecuted by feudal ethics. Crazy, only her madness means she returns to her true self, but she can no longer get out of the square Chen family compound. In the film, a child mispronounced one of Ouyang Xiu's poems as "Not as good as the world." Free cry" has no meaning

  • Conrad 2022-03-20 09:02:55

    The neat and symmetrical picture aesthetics itself is like the so-called rules of feudal patriarchal law. Symbolic metaphors are overwhelming. The narration of the national teacher at that time was really concise, and a lot of content was directly explained with red lanterns and clappers.

Raise the Red Lantern quotes

  • The Third Concubine: Good or bad, it's all playacting. If you act well, you can fool other people; if you do it badly, you can only fool yourself, and when you can't even fool yourself, you just can fool the ghosts.

  • Yan'er: Who are you?

    Housekeeper: Fourth mistress, please come inside.

    Yan'er: [losing her cool] So you're the fourth mistress!

    [Yan'er rudely pulls the water bowl away from Songlian and puts clothes in it]

    Songlian: Yes! I am the fourth mistress. Bring my suitcase inside please.