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The house of Lim is a book written in a social historical context of a Chinese farm family. The stories have a first pace, and the reader is not required to have any preceding comprehension of the Chinese tradition and society. The book is also very interesting and educative. Wolf, who is the author of the book, portrays one of her strengths in the book through interacting with the family of Lim. Also, her strength in the book is depicted by how she reacts to the different events. She also understands the traditions and culture of a farm family in the nineteen thirties in Taiwan. Nevertheless, she has the ability of putting a perspective that is Western in it. The author has an understanding of the relationships that are integral among second wives, parents, wives, foster parents, adopted children, the locals, and children. This enables the reader to have complete perspective of the reason why particular issues regarding family were significant, and the way they were correctly adhered to. Wolf demonstrates that the most significant thing regarding a Chinese man is respect, tradition, honor, face, and filial piety. The setting of the book is about a Chinese farm family that is entwined in conflict. The story also depicts the manner through which Lim Han-Ci, who is the father, and later, Lim Chieng-cua, who is the second son, operates in order to uphold the honor and traditions of their family.
How do these individuals understand their roles and identities within the family?
The two people embedded in key family relationships are which Lim Han-Ci, the father, and Lim Chieng-cua, the son. The two operate in such a way to maintain the honor and traditions of their family. These individuals understand their roles in the family as; they are the ones who are supposed to protect the family values and traditions. This also gives them their identity within the family because; the most important thing regarding a Chinese man is respect, tradition, honor, and filial piety. These are what the Chinese men stand to uphold, hence they see their role and identities in the family as leaders. This helps to bring out the understanding regarding the hierarchy of the Chinese family, and the reason why family honor, discrimination, and sex biasness was very significant to a lot of different generations in the Chinese society. The book gives an explanation of the reason girl children were considered as being bad luck in regard to the Chinese family. The books show the way members of the Lim family interacts, and the way influence is passed on from one generation to another. The book gives a reflection of the way women handled, and the reasons for this. For instance; the moment girls are born, they are viewed as persons who devour food belonging to the family but give nothing in return.
What conflicts do they experience with other family members?
The absence of a son would a threat that is severe to the Chinese family. But this does not mean that the presence of a son gives a guarantee to smooth relations among family members. Lim Han-Ci used to administer severe physical punishment to his sons. There was a conflict between Lim Han-Ci and his oldest son. This portrays the dilemma that results to split between father and son, and also the challenges that can arise due to marriages that are adopted. There was a girl, who was adopted by Lim Han-Ci when she was nine months old, to be reared for the sake of becoming his sons wife. The relation between her and the husband to be was not good. The eldest son of Lim Han-Ci left home when he was nineteen years old and damaged the relationship with his father. Years later, he came back and reconciled with his father. After Lim Han-Ci die, there resulted conflict among the brothers and their wives regarding property. The conflict between the members of the family because of property finally split them apart. This portrays conflicts that can exist in many family relationships due to different interests and perspectives that exist between the family members.
What are privileges do they draw upon based on their status in the family and what rights and duties must they perform (and to whom) based on their familiar roles?
Fathers have the responsibilities of leading the entire family with authority. They are responsible for guiding the traditions and morals of the family that include wives, sons, and daughter and any other members of the extended family. The sons are next. The sons, especially the eldest, is not supposed to die before the father because he is the one who will inherit the position of the father and uphold the family culture and tradition until they are passed on to the next person in the family. The women have no role in leadership because they are below the men. The women are not considered to be significant, and that is the reason why they are not given a chance to become leaders, or have a say in the family issues. If a son dies before the father, then there would be no heir to uphold the family traditions, and this may lead to conflict among other members of the family especially to matters that relate to property.
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