Recreating Mulan, Essay Example

Recreating Mulan: Hua Mulan, a Woman before Her Time

From the Ballad of Mulan:

“Facing the window she fixes her cloudlike hair,

Hanging up a mirror she dabs on yellow flower powder

She goes out the door and sees  her comrades”

This quote represents Hua Mulan’s dual role as a woman and soldier. The ballad describes her as a brave and strong soldier, but the laws of Chinese society prohibit women from joining the army. Therefore, she exhibits strong character by hiding who she truly is to benefit her loved ones.

From the Song of Mulan:

“Filled with noble courage she wields a sword”

This describes Hua Mulan because Chinese women were expected to be docile. The fact that she was willing to wield a sword strengthens the description of courage in this line because even though normal soldiers have courage, she has more because she is willing to fight against womanly standards.

From the Song of Mulan:

“Only now do we know that a daughter is as useful as a son!”

This quote represents one of Hua Mulan’s goals in joining the military; that women are just as valuable as men. This was an important lesson in ancient Chinese literature because men were valued more greatly.

From the Poem of Mulan:

“She did not have a man she was in love with,

There was no boy who occupied her thoughts.”

This defines Hua Mulan because again, she is defying normal expectations that Chinese society had of women. Women were expected to be primarily concerned with attracting a husband and Mulan does not conform to this stereotype.

From the Poem of Mulan:

“Who can distinguish whether I am in fact male or female?”

This quote represents the main point that Mulan is trying to prove; women can fight as well as men.