“Injustice to Dou E” is a story about a young girl trapped in a world of social injustice and cannot escape. This play highlights the subservience of women to men. Dou’E is sold by her father at the age of three as a child bride to Aunt Cai. The theme of oppression by men is at the center of Dou’E, because, from the point of independence, she is falsely accused, tortured and then put to death. The oppression is accepted and through duty, Dou’E only rebels just before her execution where she curses her executors. The curses come true, which illustrates that there is power in the feminine form; however, there is always a theme of subservience. In fact, Dou’E does not find peace until her ghost finds her father (i.e. the dutiful daughter). The question that one may ask is why there is acceptance of this duty and injustice, arguably this is reflective of the obligations of the dutiful daughter. However, the story of Mulan depicts a different picture of duty.
In “Mu Lan Joins the Army” Mu Lan enters the army to bring honor to her family, and prevent her weak and aged father or book-learned brother Muh Shu from being drafted by Zhao Ling. This act is contrary to the Chinese culture (Mu Lan, 37). The commentary of Mu Lan illustrates that she does not want to be subjugated by men:
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"“Injustice to Dou E”: A Comparison Between Dou’E and Mulan".
“I definitely can go. I have always wanted to join the army and shame those men” (Mu Lan, 37).
The inference is that both duty and rebellion against injustice can occur. However, in both Dou’E and Mu Lan the dutiful daughter is making a sacrifice for their families. The difference is that Mu Lan finds glory as a man, whilst Dou’E finds death as a woman.
The “Poem of Mulan” is slightly different; because it highlights she left without the knowledge of her father (line 16). This was to save her father, but it distresses her family, because she is not acting as a dutiful daughter should (line 27). However, duty is the goal, which is seen in the refusal of glory and return to her womanly skirts (i.e. a return to oppression) (line 44). Thus, this version illustrates that the empowerment in “Mu Lan Joins the Army” is not present; rather there is a breach of duty to save her father and then a return to her obligation. This theme is aptly seen on Wei Yuanfu’s version, which ends with:
If in this world the hearts of the officials and sons
Could display the same principled virtue as Mulan’s (Yuanfu, 8).
Thus, the message in this version is that duty to family and country is important, but this duty will always result in a return to traditional obligations. This is especially the case for the daughter. In both Mulan and Dou’E, there is duty and release (either in death or pretending to be a man); however, in both there is always a return to the father to express duty.
- Guan Hanqing, The Injustice to Dou E & The Wife-Snatcher, (trans. Hah Kyung-shim) Jimanji, 2008. Print.
- “Mu Lan Joins the Army” (1903) in Shiamin, Kwa Mulan: Five Versions of a Classic Chinese Legend with Related Texts (trans Walt I Idema) Hackett, 2010. Print
- “Poem of Mulan” in Shiamin, Kwa Mulan: Five Versions of a Classic Chinese Legend with Related Texts (trans Walt I Idema) Hackett, 2010. Print
- Yuanfu, Wei “Song of Mulan” in Shiamin, Kwa Mulan: Five Versions of a Classic Chinese Legend with Related Texts (trans Walt I Idema) Hackett, 2010. Print
