In Paradise of the Blind, explain how Hang's mother, Que, has an influence on Hang's development
Que's role in this novel is mainly the one to set an example Hang does not want to follow. She does not play the role of the traditional mother in the family, as she often fails to take care of her financially and after Hang gets closer to Aunt Tam she refuses to support her emotionally. In the end, Que end up loosing her leg, effectively loosing her ability to watch out for Hang and turning to the person who needs to be looked after. Hang is not used to be properly looked after, which made her suffer in the past but in the end of the novel, gives her the independency to choose her own path. The mother's situation makes Hang's life even more difficult, leading her to wish even more for a life of herself, even though she fulfils her duty as a good daughter.
Hang's mother is the one who passes on the idea of self-sacrifice on which Hang is constantly expected to live after.
“ 'To live with dignity, the important thing is never to despair. You give up once, and everything gives way. They say ginger root becomes stringy, but pungent with age. Unhappiness forges a woman, makes her selfless, compassionate'
My mother had lived like this, according to proverbs and duties. She wanted me to show the same selflessness.”
The idea of self-sacrifice is one that follows through the whole novel and is mainly introduced by her mother. This quote especially shows this. The language choice already makes this proverb sound like a rule as it is the only way “to live with dignity”. It also stresses the position of women in society twice giving us the image of the women who quietly holds families and therefore society quietly together through self-sacrifice. This is stressed through the words “never to despair” and “you give up once and everything gives way”. The end of the proverb also shows the image of what a perfect women should be like according to Vietnamese culture, and this would be one of an unhappy women, as only than she is selfless and compassionate.
