She Bring Disgrace Upon The Imperial China Analysis

Though the writer had a genuine interest in training women, Pan Chao writes specifically for women because she has the power to influence them, which she doesn’t have with man; therefore by influencing women, she hopes to influence man as well. In the introduction, the Chao shows concern for her son, Ku: “I fear that my son Ku may bring disgrace upon the Imperial Dynasty” (pag. 320). However, Chao knows that she can’t do much about her son –he is grown up and probably wouldn’t take her advices as much as a woman would– and she can’t count on her husband either who was probably dead by then. So she turns to women so that she can change not only future generation of women, but men as well. She wants to influence women and man alike. Concerning her preoccupation with her son, Chao intended to target her daughters, or the women on her family, which includes, perhaps, her son’s wife.
322). A man’s bad reputation is his wife’s bad reputation; a man’s disgrace is his wife’s. Therefore, by following these principles, a woman not only avoid her own misfortune, but can also influence her husband on not falling into such traps. Chao feared disgrace for her son and therefore turned to his wife to ensure a different outcome. In chapter 6, Chao focuses on how a daughter-in-law should be obedient to her parent-in-law: “If a daughter-in-law who follows the wishes of her parents-in-law is like an echo and a shadow, how could she not be praised” (pag. 325). Chao is implicitly saying to her son’s wife to listen to her and do as she says. Chao does believe that a woman can and should influence her husband, and her family for that matter, but she first has to properly learn how to do it. “If a wife does not serve her husband, then the proper relationship between men and women and the natural order of things are neglected and destroyed” (pag.