To You, What Moral Values Reflected in the Yue Operas that We Have Watched are Still Valid and Important to Today’s Society?
By Sarah Eisner
In several of the plays we have been presented with, in opera form as well as the ballad versions, we have seen many of the characters having characteristics representing moral flaws as well as high moral values. One of the biggest common themes in these operas is the importance of romantic relationships between men and women. Some of the main factors that come into play when the female characters select men with whom they want to marry include: wealth, character, and social status, namely, class. These values are important and aren’t completely void of morals because they are trying to select who they think will be the best partner to them, as well as what’s good for their family, it’s not necessarily all about their romantic attraction for the person.
In The Butterfly Lovers the two characters Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo have a deep love for each other, it appears, and then attempt to get married, however Yingtai’s father then engages her to a man of his choosing, and this man comes from a family of the same social standing as Yingtai’s family. Yingtai eventually does have to convince Shanbo that she has to do as her family wishes because of her commitment to them. She still tries to remain a friend to Shanbo even though she chooses her family over love, showing how she tried to balance the situation she was stuck in more fairly.
In Romance of the Western Bower’s ballad version, Yingying is admired by scholar master Zhang, yet she plays with master Zhang’s heart a bit because she sometimes acts like she’s changed her mind about agreeing to marry him after Master Zhang gets rid of the bandits. Yingying however stays loyal to her mother’s wishes even though she has conflicting feelings for Master Zhang. She’s clearly as conflicted about how to make her choice, and even Rose tries to help Master Zhang and set him sdn Yingying up. This is nobility at its best. Furthermore though, at this time in history the values of the society were more focused on the good of the family and social standing as well as love. Commitment to one’s family was and is of high moral value.
To You, What Moral Values Reflected in the Yue Operas that We Have Watched are Still Valid and Important to Today’s Society?
To You, What Moral Values Reflected in the Yue Operas that We Have Watched are Still Valid and Important to Today’s Society?
By Sarah Eisner
In several of the plays we have been presented with, in opera form as well as the ballad versions, we have seen many of the characters having characteristics representing moral flaws as well as high moral values. One of the biggest common themes in these operas is the importance of romantic relationships between men and women. Some of the main factors that come into play when the female characters select men with whom they want to marry include: wealth, character, and social status, namely, class. These values are important and aren’t completely void of morals because they are trying to select who they think will be the best partner to them, as well as what’s good for their family, it’s not necessarily all about their romantic attraction for the person.
In The Butterfly Lovers the two characters Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo have a deep love for each other, it appears, and then attempt to get married, however Yingtai’s father then engages her to a man of his choosing, and this man comes from a family of the same social standing as Yingtai’s family. Yingtai eventually does have to convince Shanbo that she has to do as her family wishes because of her commitment to them. She still tries to remain a friend to Shanbo even though she chooses her family over love, showing how she tried to balance the situation she was stuck in more fairly.
In Romance of the Western Bower’s ballad version, Yingying is admired by scholar master Zhang, yet she plays with master Zhang’s heart a bit because she sometimes acts like she’s changed her mind about agreeing to marry him after Master Zhang gets rid of the bandits. Yingying however stays loyal to her mother’s wishes even though she has conflicting feelings for Master Zhang. She’s clearly as conflicted about how to make her choice, and even Rose tries to help Master Zhang and set him sdn Yingying up. This is nobility at its best. Furthermore though, at this time in history the values of the society were more focused on the good of the family and social standing as well as love. Commitment to one’s family was and is of high moral value.
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