MALE CHILD (CATHERINE LIM) I chose the short story entitled Male Child, by Catherine Lim, for the

task given. This is a simple story about Chuan Poons family who is not blessed with a male heir. He felt that he was cursed because he has done a lot of bad things. He believes that it is the punishment of his previous sins. One day, he was attracted to a woman and wanted to make her as his mistress. His pregnant wife told him that he could only marry her if their next child is a girl and she will not complaint about it. This story ends with an open ending as we do not know whether the baby is a male or a female. The first theory that can be found in this story is cultural theory. Cultural theory is a theory that examines the habitual privilege of race, class, and gender, and also subverts the standard distinctions between high art and low. Basically, this theory looks at how culture affects and develops the way of life of a particular society. This theory is usually being used by the minority ethnic group and post-colonial writers. My first point for this theory is the importance of having a male child in Chinese culture. In a Chinese family, a male child is preferred more than a female child. They must have a son because only a son can carry their family name and also inherit all the family wealth or prosperity, whereas a female heir cannot carry their family name. This is because when she gets married, she will use her husbands family name. This is why in Chinese culture, male child is more worthy than a female child. This can be proven in the line, what was the use of all this prosperity when there was no male heir to leave it to and to carry on his name after he had gone to join his ancestors? In Chinese culture, they believe that it is a burden for not having a male heir and it is such a big humiliation for having a female child. For instance, Chuan Poon keeps on blaming his wife for she cannot give him a male child. In my opinion, if we think scientifically, man is the one who determines the gender of a child. It is not the wifes fault for giving birth to a female child. We should be grateful for what God has set for us, either to have a male or female heir. Besides, they also believe in the punishment of previous sin. If you did something bad in your life, you will be punished. For example, during the Festival of Nine Gods, Chuan Poon secretly consumed a meal of rice and beef curry in a restaurant. In fact, he was supposed to purify himself like the others upon being vegetarian. This is one of the sins that Chuan Poo has done before. So, he thinks that he was cursed. He thinks that his wife cannot bear a male child because it is the punishment for his previous sins. As for me, this is fair enough because what

comes around in this world, goes around. This means what we do will always come back to us. So, we must be aware of our action and think rationally before we do it. Furthermore, in the Chinese culture, they believe in the culture of consulting fortune-teller as the prediction of the fortune-teller is usually right. In this story, Chuan Poon had consulted a fortune teller and found to his great joy that the child this time would be a male child. He is very happy with what the fortune-teller told him but there is always fear present within him. In my opinion, I do not believe in this culture. If we think logically, fortune-teller cannot predict accurately whether one will get a male or female child. Why should we believe in the fortuneteller? Well, that is culture and we can do nothing about it as the societys mind has been set by the culture from generation to generation. The second theory for this story is the gender theory. Gender theory is an approach to literature that explores how ideas about men and women, what is masculine and feminine, can be regarded by socially constructed by a particular culture. From this story, we can see women are being oppressed as they are seen as a weaker gender and always willing to sacrifice for the sake of their husbands. They are willing to sacrifice anything for their husbands happiness. In this story, Chuan Poon keeps blaming his wife for she cannot give him a male heir. Chuan Poons wife knows that her husband was attracted to other woman and wants to make her as his mistress. Despite being in this situation, she never says anything about it. His wife once said that if the baby this time is a female child again, Chuan Poon can take the woman as his new wife and she will not complain about it. As for me, this is a big sacrifice from the wife. It is not easy for a woman to share her husbands love with another woman. It is just that men cannot see all that. Moreover, men are the breadwinners, while women stay at home and handle all the household chores. For instance, Chuan Poon works as a rubber tapper and begins to start his own business to support his family whereas his wifes responsibilities are to do all the house work and to take care of the children. Chuan Poons wife is the one who does all the chores most of the time although she is pregnant. In my opinion, Chuan Poons wife is a good housewife as she never neglects her responsibilities to do all the chores. Again, I think there is nothing wrong if the husband also helps his wife to do the household chores. Both the husband and wife should tolerate and lead a happy life. Last but not least, man is seen as a superior gender. Man is respected and he can do whatever he wants to do. In this story, Chuan Poon was attracted to a woman and wants to

keep her as his mistress. In my opinion, Chuan Poon is supposed to take care of his pregnant wife. Although man is more superior, they should show respect and be caring towards his pregnant wife. Not only that, it is the husbands responsibilities to take care of his wife. In addition, male child is also seen as a powerful gift compared to female child. For example, Chuan Poon agonised over this curse of being denied a son. He never appreciates his daughters and sometimes he beats his daughters to release his anger. In my opinion, good parents will never beat their children and will never interfere with personal problem with familys happiness. Parents should be the role model for their children. In conclusion, this story tells us about the sacrifice that women are ready to take for their husband and also the culture of the Chinese people. This story has taught me that we should have faith in God and be a responsible person in order to save our marriage.