Consider Crazy Mary's story. Can you draw any comparisons to No Name Woman's? Could either of these women have been the other?
Also, think about Ts'ai Yen's tale in comparison to Fa Mu Lan's: why would Kingston employ the talk-stories of two very --seemingly-- different women? Mu Lan brandished a sword whereas Ts'ai Yen brandished the word...
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Crazy Mary's story is similar to No Name Woman's in that the abandonment of both leads to their madness. Crazy Mary is abandoned by her family and turns insane due to this. No Name woman is rejected and therefore also abandoned by society and family. Both are left mentally unstable due to rejection that they cannot handle. This is why No Name Woman jumps in a well and why Crazy Mary is left psychologically damaged.
Ts'ai Yen's and Fa Mu Lan's tales are very similar. Both woman obtain power and become warriors. While Fa Mu Lan has her sky sword, Ts'ai Yen has her words. These weapons are both equally as powerful and empower these woman. In other words, the legends of these woman are both about woman learning to empower themselves in their own special and unique way giving them power and status among their people.
Crazy Mary, similar to No Name Woman, could have been a passionate woman. They abandoned her, and she then abandons her own self. Crazy Mary's pain is too much for her to handle, so she turns insane. No Name Woman is also abandoned and prefers to die. Both women cannot stand the pain of being alone and abbaned. They are similarly insane due to the pain of an abandonment. They both could have been great, loving woman since they gave themselves up completly.
Both Fa Mu Lan and Ts'ai Yen are woman warriors who empower themselves to become great women, and leave a legacy. They fight for honor; they fight to prove women's power. They are both similarly strong and powerful.
Crazy Mary and No Name Woman are similar in a way. No Name woman is abandoned and rejected by her family there for she decides to depart from the world with her child. In the other hand Crazy Mary is abandoned from her famly, just like in No Name Woman, with the exception that Crazy Mary lives, but lives in her own life. Ts'ai Yen and Fa Mu Lan are great woman that began their journey without knowing them self and becoming great woman at the end. I believe Kingston identified herself with these two woman because she becomes like them after she confront her fears and obstacles, just like Ts'ai Yen and Fa Mu Lan did.
The two characters Crazy Mary and "No Name Woman" share many similarties, in that they both suffer from abandonment. Both of their families want nothing to do with them, which eventually leads to their insanity. For "No Name Woman" her family despises her so much, for causing the family shame ,that they would not want to utter her name. They feel that by saying her name it will bring more shame and curses on the family. This creates a similarity with Crazy Mary because when her medicine is accidentally sent to the Kingston's family they immediately want to send it back. Kingston's family thinks that her medicine will bring a curse upon them. These two characters are outcasts because the people around them care more about their own safety.
Fa Mu Lan and Ts'ai yen may have many differences but the legacy that they hold enables Kingston to realize her own power as a woman warrior. Ts'ai Yen is a poetess who faces living with people who do not understand her. Even though she does not have a voice with her captors, she finds power in her singing. By singing powerful songs she is able to communicate with the people around her. This story differs from Fa Mu Lan because she finds strenghts through the two wise people. She is considered a strong woman because she can kill many people. Kingston uses these stories because they are very influential in her own life and give her the ability to find herself.
Crazy Mary, along with No Name Woman give up hope for the future. they give up hope because their actions or by other means they have been left abandoned. abandoned by the very families that should support them in their time of need. so both women in a sense become crazed with what life has handed them.
Fa Mu Lan, and Ts'ai Yen are living in a male dominant society. they instead of giving up choose to in their own way fight back. Mu Lan literally fights back and becomes a warrior, for her own freedom. and Ts'ai Yen sings to free her soul and release her feelings. so both character are forced to endure hardships but doing so to guarantee their freedom, if not physically then mentally, setting their souls free.
Crazy Mary and No Name Woman are similar in that both are abandoned by their family. In the moments when the family should be helping out these women, it is the moment that the families leave them the most. The only difference between both of these women is that No Name Woman kills herself with her baby, and Crazy Mary lives.
Ts’ai Yen and Fa Mu Lan are similar in that both are woman warriors. Ts’ai Yen is a warrior through words, and Fa Mu Lan is a warrior through fighting. Kingston decides to use two different women to show that there is not only one way to become a warrior. Words can be equally as strong as a sword, if used in the right way.
The comparison between both No Name Woman and Crazy Mary is how alone they truly are. Both characters find themselves to be outsiders in the world. The subsequent events of madness follow through their losses in life. These two woman have family who care for them, none the less they still do not find the comfort and the love they need. The love they loose is great and leads to both women to become mad and eventually cause their abandonment.
No Name Woman, if not having committed suicide, would have been like Crazy Mary. If she had not taken her own life then throughout the years she would have also become mad due to the loneliness and rejection of others. Having to live a frightening life full of disgrace would be living a life like the one Mary lives.
Fa Mu Lan gains strength and power through the one art, sky sword, she knows and does well. Ts'ai Yen also gains strength and power through the art she knows, her words. These two woman become warriors in their own unique ways. This leads to a life of empowerment and happiness because both women obtain their strength through the art they love. Kingston employs these two talk-stories because she is able to show how women can gain strength and courage in their own special way.
Crazy Mary and No Name Woman find themselves in the position where the lack of hope is their only option. Through family ties cut off and a strong realization of abandonment both give up on hope and the external realities. Crazy Mary reverts to craziness due to the bewildered state she is left in when her family leaves. It is in this distraught state that links Crazy Mary directly to No Name Woman. Through both of their separation and loss of belonging that they find themselves willing to die and lose all functions of individuality. Society and their families separation and abandonment fueled both Crazy Mary and No Nam Woman into the actions and mental position that each of them are forced to face. Crazy Mary and No Name Woman are connected by the loss of total control over who they had always been, they are together a story and example of the result of cultural separation. Ts’ai Yen and Fa Mu Lan’s stories are connected in the perspective of a power and the intense nature of being a woman warrior. Fa Mu Lan is able to use her sky sword and equally as powerful Ts’ai Yen uses her profound and seemingly magical words to cut through the core of life and a person. Both women learn to conquer themselves and in doing to both find the warrior power through their ability to transform themselves.
Through abandonment, the two unfortunate women Crazy Mary and “No Name Woman” become insane. Crazy Mary is rejected by her family and is left forlorn. Likewise, “No Name Woman” is forsaken by her family and community. Due to family shame, she contemplates about suicide and infanticide, and she ends up performing action. On the other hand, Crazy Mary does not suicide, but is left mentally unstable due to the amount of reject she cannot handle. Scarred by rejection, her mind is psychologically damaged. In the end, both women are exiles to their family and society; they are unwanted and unloved.
Living in a patriarchical society, Fa Mu Lan and Ts’ai Yen are both woman warriors. Fa Mu Lan is the physical warrior who obliterates adversaries in her way; Ts’ai Yen is the verbal warrior who finds power in her songs and strongly communicates with others. Ts’sai Yen sings her heart out and frees her soul, while Fa Mu Lan fights to find acceptance as a woman. Both women are competent and strong in their own way. The power of the words is just as powerful as the strikes of the sword when used correctly.
Crazy Mary and the No Name Woman are both abandoned by the people that they rely on. Society turns it's back on the No Name Woman and casts her out from the village. Likewise, Mary's family leaves her behind in China as they embark on a journey in seek of a better life. Both women eventually become insane due to the internal torture caused by their desertion.
Ts'ia Yen and Fa Mu Lan are both intensely strong women. Yen's words are Mu Lan's sword. Yen uses her wisdom to fight through written expression; Mu Lan uses her physical and mental strength to fight through weapons. They both fight against restrictions based on gender. Overall, both women manage to overcome oppression, become powerful, and attain success.
Both Crazy Mary and No Name Woman are similar in the sense that both are abondoned and left alone to endure suffering. Society turns their back on them and are left to stand alone and face society by themselves. They both become weak once they are isolated from society because Crazy Mary allows for her abondonment to overpower her mind and she allows herself to go crazy because she cannot face isolation. She, in a sense, gives up on trying to take control over herself and allows for her fear to take control instead. She becomes weak for not even trying to stand up for herself. Instead of growing up to become a strong woman, she portrays herself as a vulnerable child who can easily be manipulated. Although the analysis of Crazy Mary may seem harsh, what else can she do? If she cannot depend on her family anymore, it is time for her to take her life in her own hands, but she fails. No Name Woman is also weak and a coward to face society. She is abondoned because she chooses to follow her own lusts and instead, and when faced with the consequences, she does not wish to bear them. She kills herself because she is weak. She allows for her mind to govern her and lead her to suicide, a pathetic way in which to escape punishment. The novel's greatest theme is the power and strength of women, but these two women portray weakness and failure. They are the only two women in the novel in which display weakness.
Both Fa Mu Lan and Ts'ia Yen share power and strength as two individual women in which do not give up on anything, but rather achieve. They are both the complete opposite of both Crazy Mary and No Name Woman. Both Fa Mu Lan and Tsia Yen are united with the sword. Fa Mu Lan fights with the sword for power while Tsia Yen fights with the sword of words. Both woman become warriors because one pierces towards her power and her acceptance as a woman, while the other writes powerful words to express herself and free herself. Both women achieve their goals and instead of being looked down upon because they are women, they instead are seen as great people with power and authority.
Crazy Mary has expectations to help her family in America while No Name Woman has expectations to be dutifully married and then live with her husband's family. They both end up not fulfilling their families needs. As a result, both of the women are alienated from their families and society. They become crazy and their minds invaluable to anyone.
Mu Lan uses her sword and mind to make statements of purpose. Similarly, Ts'ai Yen states her purpose with her songs that illustrate her feelings and past. Mu Lan uses her sword to relinquish her feelings as well as demonstrate her training. Both of these women help to recognize themselves throughout Chinese history of the power of women.
Crazy Mary and No Named Woman are similar because both characters are both the black sheep of their society. No Named Woman is denied by her own family and Crazy Mary is alone in her life without a family or anyone to turn to for comfort. Since they are both alone and looked upon as different than others, they become mentally unstable.
As for Ts'ai Yen and Fa Mu Lan, these women both possess the weapons they need (Sky Sword) to live in male-dominated societies. Similar to Kingston, Ts'ai Yen, has her words. She sings the songs that tells about her past experiences and how it molds her into the woman she is. And finally, Fa Mu Lan prepares for her own battles with proper training.
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