Maxine Hong Kingston-"No Name Woman"

The artice by Maxine Hong Kingston had a depressing tone, beside the circumstances of the story, the description of what happen to Kingston's aunt was cruel not only on the part of the villagers but the rejection from her family as well. In an event that should have been a joyous occassion, there was slaughter and vandalism. Kingston states, "On the night the baby was to be born, villagers raided our house[...] Like a great saw [...] files of people began to zigzag across our land tearing the rice" (392). This story serves as a cautionary tail for Kingston because she is still young at this point and her mother is retelling the disgrace that her father's sister brought to the family. In a the Chinese culture, family ties are more sacred and everyone is to conform with the norms. Kingston's aunt, was married and when her husband left on a trip, in a moment of weakness commited adultery and as a result she became pregnant. One can only assume that the biological father of this child was portrayed as a cruel man who did not want anything to do with the child or woman. Kingston believes "The other man, after all, was not that different from her husband. They both gave orders:she followed" (394).Later, her aunt commits suicide as well as kills the child she was baring by throwing herself in the outside well. In such a society as in many others, women have a tremendous pressure to follow the orders of society and if any thing is out of the ordinary or out of place they must be the ones to resume responsibility for it. Soiciety expects women to have a sense of self-control. In earlier years, woman had to subdue themselves to their family or husband's wishes. In this story Kingston's aunt submitts to the shame she has brought to her family once they notice that she is with child. So, in a way women become molded by their surroundings and the people they are closest to. Much like Kingston's mother was telling this story to her as a warning; if she somehow were to betray her family by dishonor she would suffer the consequences with tragedy and be denied of her existance in the family.