Theme and Genre in Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger .
This paper will argue that the story "Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger" exhibits the generic conventions of vernacular stories. Its narrator functions like a popular storyteller, breaking into the action to comment or judge, and generally maintaining a chatty, oral folkstory tone within the form of a written text. However, as will be seen, in its theme interest the story also echoes the preoccupations of its era. Ming China in the seventeenth century was a world dominated by urban mercantile culture. Thus, even in a story of romance and love such as "Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger" there is a preoccupation with commerce and exchange, and even love is shown to have a price. 6 pgs. Bibliography lists 1 source.
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