I Beg of You, Chung Tzu

1
I Beg of You, Chung Tzu

• From The Book of Songs

2
STANZA 1

• Personal Desire Versus Social/Filial Obligation
  (Parents)
• Do not break the willows we have planted. Not
  that I mind about the willows (3-4)
• Suggests sneaking in at night

3
STANZA 1

• Personal Desire Versus Social/Filial Obligation
  (Parents)
• But I am afraid of my father and mother (5)
• Diction Afraid
• Fearful of them?
• Fearful of disappointing them?
• Suggests her priority is her family rather than
  herself

4
STANZA 2

• Personal Desire Versus Social/Filial Obligation
  (Brothers)
• Do not break the mulberry trees we
  have planted Not that I mind about the
  mulberry trees (11-12)
• Presence of repetition
• Suggests sneaking in at night

5
STANZA 2

• Personal Desire Versus Social/Filial Obligation
  (Brothers)
• But I am afraid of my brothers (13)
• Repetition is significant
• Tone of desire is repeated
• Fear is repeated

6
STANZA 3

• Personal Desire Versus Social/Filial Obligation
  (people/community)
• Do not break the hard wood we have planted.
  Not that I mind about the hard wood (18-19)
• Presence of repetition
• Suggests sneaking in at night

7
STANZA 3

• Personal Desire Versus Social/Filial Obligation
  (people/community)
• But I am afraid of what people will say (20)
• Repetition is significant
• Desire is repeated
• Fear is repeated

8
PURPOSE OF REPETITION

• Personal Desire Versus Social/Filial Obligation
• Social/filial obligation is more important than
  personal desire

9
PURPOSE OF REPETITION

• Chung Tzu I dearly love
• Demonstrates her deep love for him
• But of what my _________ say Indeed I am
  afraid
• Demonstrates her desire to please her
  elders/superiors

10
PRESENCE OF CONFUCIANISM

• Respecting elders/superiors
• Is she sacrificing her desires?
• Yes
• She obviously loves Chung Tzu
• No
• If her parents disapprove, they do so for the
  benefit of their daughter
• Ren