Reading Response

Lisa See, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
3/1: 30 min., 3/6: 132 min.
Total: 162 min.

For my historical fiction novel, I chose Snow Flower and the Secret Fan for World History. I actually wanted to read Memoirs of a Geisha instead, as I’ve seen the movie, but it’s way more 350 pages, and I probably would not have been able to finish in time. Surprisingly, I’ve grown to be really fond of this book. It centers on footbinding in ancient China and takes place during the Daoguang dynasty. I’ve always been fascinated with the footbinding process after briefly studying it in World History. The narrator of the story is Lily, an obedient and disciplined daughter who is willing to do anything for her mother’s love and attention. Her distinctive feet are considered to be so rare and pristine that it allows her to have the smallest feet (only 7 cm – the size of a thumb) which has been her ultimate goal in order to obtain her mother’s acceptance.

It is astounding how having the smallest feet can improve social standing. It must have been so depressing to have bound feet at the age of five, not being able to run around and play. These girls were so young, yet they had all already been matched husbands by matchmakers and knew SO much about their duties and their purpose. They were not permitted to leave the women’s chamber or ever see the world changing in the outside realms. They were physically unable to anyway, as it was awfully painful to walk on one toe. I also can’t imagine being so powerless as a woman. Men ruled their lives and everything in it. “When a girl, obey your father. When a wife, obey your husband. When a widow, obey your son,” (24). As I was reading, I pictured myself as a woman of this era. Having unbound feet, I would have been a slave or a maid, bringing dishonor to my family. I guess no matter which era I live in, I’ll have a long way to go if I want to make my family proud.