No Fairy Tale Endings

Reading The Teardrop Story Woman, I am reminded of John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga, of two generations of Forsyte men who wish to possess Beauty, the character Irene. The Saga ended happily, for Irene is bestowed upon the worthiest Forsyte, a man with honor and integrity. However Mei Kwei ends up as a concubine or minor wife after her husband disowns her for giving birth to a "ghost child," a child with albinism, because he thinks she betrayed him with the French priest. Even though she is a dutiful daughter and wife, Mei Kwei is accused of unfaithfulness because she is beautiful.

In My Cousin Rachel, Daphne du Maurier said that to be born a beautiful woman is a misfortune. The narrator wants to possess the beautiful Rachel but because of jealousy and suspicion, he murders her. Mei Kwei avoids that fate. She smashes the jade bracelet, the symbol of her bondage to her rich lover. With such strength, it is hard to believe that all she can be is a mere mistress. Mei Kwei is a survivor; not like Irene or Rachel, for whom men are both predator and protector. She plays the role of the concubine for her own ends. It is both manipulative and cunning; and that diminishes her.