Theme and significance

Themes in Ties that Bind, Ties that Break

Family functions: It is presented in chapter one and five because Grandfather was the head of the family. When he died, Big Uncle became the official head of the Tao family, however was Grandmother who gave the orders in family matters and she made the major decisions about marriages and engagements.

Big Uncle’s first wife was the one who should be running things, but she was disable because of her physical conditions, and Big Uncle second wife used to obeying Grandmother’s orders. So, it seemed to be nobody in charge of Tao family.

Love and friendship: The relationship between Second Sister and Ailin was a love and friendship prove presented along the book. Also, when Father ordered the attempt of Ailin’s bound feet stopped and when he sent her to a public school to improve her life. In addition, the nice way that Hanwei used to address her; he always was interest in her.

Marriage: It is presented in the book that at that time some babies were engaged before they’re even born. In Tao family girls had their marriage engagements when they were very young because it was part of the tradition.

Traditions:  Bound feet is one of the main tradition presented in the book. Xueyan told Ailin this tradition was because mothers and grandmothers insisted on having it done and maybe they wanted their daughters to experience the same pain they themselves had to endure.

Traditions is also evidenced in customs, for example in chapter one it is said that Grandmother wore her usual long satin tunic over trousers, and on her head she wore her black velvet headband, but Mrs. Liu wore a fashion dress.

Women role: This them is developed for example when Hanwei told her that public schools were only for men and when Ailin was talking with Xueyan and Xueyan told her that “According to Master Confucius, women should be submissive to men. Having bound feet certainly made us helpless and therefore submissive.” Also, when Grandmother said that women only need the education provided in the family school because too much studying was unhealthy for girls.

2. The significance of this book in the literary world, at the time it was published and thereafter:

AWARDS

• ·         ALA Best Books for Young AdultsWINNER 2000
• ·         California Young Reader MedalWINNER 2004
• ·         Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading ListWINNER 2001
• ·         Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers AwardNOMINEE 2002

PRAISE

• ·         "Atmospheric and closely informed . . . this colorful novel has the force and intensity of a memoir."–Publishers Weekly, Starred
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3. The significance of the title:

Ties that bind, Ties that Break: It refers to the painfully tight binding to the feet of young girls to modify the shape of the foot in China because big feet were unacceptable for women at that time. It was practice in wealthy families. In addition, it refers to the danger of being different from everyone else in one place.

Reference sources:  

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/119716/ties-that-bind-ties-that-break-by-lensey-namioka/9780440415992/