Introduction
Appearance is a subjective notion regarding structural ideologies, such as perceived respect among the wealthy while the reality enshrines incongruent personality traits among individuals on ethical virtues. The short story, ‘Du Tenth Sinks the Jewelry Box in Anger,’ fosters an apt evaluation of the contrast in the human behavioral quotient. On the one hand, Li Jia and Sun Fu attained education and reputation based on the families’ popularity on cultural bounds (Lu 113). On the other hand, Du Mei shows bravery and intelligence despite her illiteracy and low-income family background. The outline of the essay involves differentiating perceptions and practicality, manipulative aspects of appearances, distinguishing the truth and lies, and figurative masking of character to deceive counterparts. Primarily, the narrative construct strengthens an intersection of morality on a realm spectrum while disregarding the baseline jewel box as the entitlement factor in societal relationship building. Discerning the margin between manifestations and substantiality adeptly projects personality charisma reflected through the chronicle by Menglong.
Differentiation of Appearance and Reality
The tale demonstrates variant thematic fabrications attributing to the dynamic interaction among the characters on certainty and emanations. Li Jia’s personality is mainly submissive to external influences to impress other dignified entities, such as Sun Fu (Volpp 3). Li Jia’s family reputation shields his dependence on other persons’ opinions for decision-making. Ideally, Li Jia’s juxtaposition based on social status is an appearance quotient that coats the realism on the individual’s weakness. One of the illustrations that justifies the incongruity is Li Jia’s lack of protective instinct once Sun Fu suggests Du Mei is not from a respectable background (Chou 4). Du Mei falls in love with Li Jia, and they eventually become a couple. However, Li Jia’s social environment significantly impacts his decision and trust towards Du Mei. As a result, the author exploits romanticism as one of the foundational pillars contributing to the marriage break between Du Mei and Li Jia. Although Li Jia loves Du Mei based on the expressions, the character’s weakness entails materialism.
The contradictory existence of the interdependent relationship between appearance and reality impacts self-actualization. Ideally, the personality build-up among individuals profoundly relies on the socio-cultural framework. The short story demonstrates a proficient distinction between the dynamic clusters in the community influencing the derivation of an identity. One of the fundamental determinant factors of unity enshrines romanticism that disregards wealth, position, and status in society. However, Menglong reframes a consequential outcome from the interaction between individuals from varying backgrounds and reputations (Lu 115). The author achieves a congruent insight concerning the impact of capitalism. Du Mei attests that her source of livelihood is disparate from her moral and ethical virtue. As a result, there is an adept divergence between objective against the subjective judgment of character on inception than reality.
Discrepant institutions and entities exploit appearance to achieve the main goal due to the perceptive, positive prospect. In the short story, Du Mei romanticizes with Li Jia, a youthful, stylish master (Lu 113). In this case, Du Mei perceives Li Jia as a charismatic and hardworking member of society in contrast to the eventual revelation. Therefore, Li Jia manipulates Du Mei, using his status and family reputation to win her love despite his idealization of equality. Sun Fu utilizes Li Jia’s materialistic mentality to trade Du Mei for a thousand silver taels (Lu 116). The author proficiently construes Sun Fu and Li Jia’s behavioral code against Du Mei’s discernment along the gradient of differentiated social classes. Sun Fu’s discriminatory framework encapsulates showing respect to individuals in anent of wealth and social class. Ideally, the diversified mainframe of human interactions among the three characters is a result of learned and acquired demeanor.
Manipulative Aspects of Appearances
Social environmental factors influence the identity of a person on account of nurturing future generations. On the one hand, the short story renders an initiative on the contrast between the two elements, appearance, and reality, through the distinctive social classification and nurturing effects. On the other hand, the author focuses on the essence of charisma, especially on the mentorship paradigm. Li Jia grows up in a family setting that profoundly values materialism over humanity (Chou 7). Therefore, Li Jia develops a personality akin to selfish and discriminatory tendencies. In a different spectrum, Sun Fu certainly proves his avidity by offering a trade of silver for Li Jia’s wife. The inconsiderate resolution affirms the necessity of valuing character traits based on moral and ethical virtues against richness.
Individualism is one of the social psychology concepts that is significantly understood through a cross-cultural perspective. Research study establishes that ipseity encompasses the approach of appreciating personal values as a foundation of multiculturalism (Lu 116). Different people uphold divergent mores and virtues. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance egoism under the spectral view of society due to the amplification in the development of social identity and the advancement of self-awareness. Perspicacity is an approach that enhances the comprehension of distinct procedures among people and the influence of socio-cultural constructs. Cultural competency is an essential aspect in consideration of selfhood and social learning theories. Conversance concerning cultural diversity is an empowerment framework that leads to professionalism and proficiency in handling people from different backgrounds.
The disparity between Perception and Truth
There is a significant difference between perception and objective insight concerning a topical issue. The short story prominently implies the importance of detachedly developing relations with individuals from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds. According to the social learning theory, a person’s perception and attitude regarding divergence optimally depends on the sociological environment (Volpp 5). An excellent example is Sun Fu’s upbringing within a cluster that values material possession against an enriching network. Further, Li Jia’s nurturing by the family features atonement to personalities on account of wealthiness and influential variance. The consequential indicator of the discriminatory growth involves segregating and demeaning Du Mei’s cultural background. Nevertheless, Du Mei’s realm of courage and charisma supersedes Li Jia and Sun Fu’s inhumane tendencies culminating in the sinking of the jewel box.
Entitlement is a distinctive foundational pillar of the short story’s themes contributing to the plot development. Figuratively, Menglong attributes Du Mei’s personality as a perceived jewel box sunk in anger (Lu 117). The author intersects the multidimensional approach to Du Mei’s social status and contradiction of relationship building and romanticism against the unsustainable interactive quotient poised by Li Jia and Sun Fu. On the one hand, Du Mei discerns Sun Fu and Li Jia’s actions as slavery on account of quantifying her body as a possession. On the other hand, Sun Fu and Li Jia espy Du Mei is a jewel whose ownership depends on the highest bidder. However, the narrative’s title enhances a juxtaposition of the conditional value outlier of the jewel box and the imminent feeling of masculinity and feminism.
It is crucial to incorporate measures that boost nurture against the nature of human behavior. Du Mei experiences dynamic hardships that bolster the charisma to independently make decisions along the margin of humanity. According to the sociological nature, capitalism is attributed to the stratification of the community into groups based on material possession (Chou 8). The outcome fostered the unjust overview and discrimination of the minority akin to the disregarded Du Mei’s social status. While Du Mei struggles to affirm her realm of personality traits, Li Jia and Sun Fu mask their ill intentions using their richness and cultural background. Ideally, the virtue of morality lies in the ability to appreciate diversity in norms, customs, and economic well-being. Therefore, the sinking of the jewel box in anger is a reflection of the essence of upholding sociological values against covetous frameworks.
Figurative Masking of Appearances
The central components exploited in the masking of derogatory behavioral codes enshrine wealth, entitlements, and ethnic and cultural identities. In the short story, Li Jia and Sun Fu sustain arrogance towards Du Mei due to the disparity in socio-cultural background. Therefore, the disparaging attitude overwhelmed the romanticism and replaced it with resentment from the counterpart. Fundamentally, the author insinuates that disposing of the jewel box fosters a vital solution to the contextualization of interrelations and networking activities and processes. The constructive plot of the short story portrays the multifaceted and evolutionary societal dimension approving the repercussions of economic success to community growth and development on mores and virtues.
Conclusion
Succinctly, there is a profound difference between appearances and reality as demonstrated in the narrative construct. Du Mei represents the minority and mainly female gender concerning the perceptive attitude to equality. Li Jia and Sun Fu portray the consequence of community stratification due to material possessions despite the profound acquisition of knowledge and skills. The short story focuses on the outcome of the interaction of the two dimensions of morals, and virtues and notices a crucial necessity involving discrediting richness to ensure a functional and sustainable justice system. The contextual analysis provides crucial insights to readers regarding the influence of nurture and nature on character development and alignment on human behavioral quotient.
Works Cited
Chou, Ying-Hsiu. The Innovative Representation of Romantic Love in “The Oil-peddler Wins the Queen of Flowers”. Diss. 2019.
Lu, Tina. “Genre and Emotion in Chen Jiru’s Biographies.” Emotions in Non-Fictional Representations of the Individual, 1600-1850. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2021. 113-132.
Volpp, Sophie. “Introduction. The Substance of Fiction.” The Substance of Fiction. Columbia University Press, 2022. 1-11.