Bridegroom Ha Jin

The situation of Homosexuality in China is quite indefinite, although it has been recorded in the dynastic history, These days, “tongzi” and “geil” used as slang in Chinese language; it is considered of unpleasant used by homosexuals. On other hand, we know Eastern culture is different from the Western one on society and people understandably. In the Asian countries often society effects on the way people thinking. The Bridegroom written by Ha Jin is a good example for the Western readers who have chance to take a journey back to contemporary China by showing conflicts between the value of the society and individual preference.
The story starts off with the narrator by Old Cheng; He’s telling us that he promised to take care of his friend’s daughter after he passed away. This daughter Beina, the bride is described a quickly “homely” and “short”. Old Cheng starts
worrying about her future if she would “end up as and old maid”(xx) when she reached 23 without a boyfriend.
It is sound strange to the readers. In the China every single Chinese girl had to get married at every young age to give born to children and take care of their husband. Otherwise the society to judge them like odd people and lose face for their parents. That is why she agrees to marry Huang Baowen. He is a “dream boat” unmarried men in the factory. Everyone seems puzzled that a handsome man such as Huang would want to marry someone like Beina, “A hen cooped a peacock” and “A fool always lands in the arms of fortune” (pg 416). Even Old Cheng wondering Baowen really like Beina “fleshy face, globefish”. (pg417) As the story goes the reader hard to understand and confused, everyone wants to know why Baowen had chosen Beina? The author does an unbelievable job on masking the reason for Baowen’s arrest after he had
been missing and Beina came to Old Cheng worrying about his absence. It has give reader to guess about which woman he had decided to lay with rather than he was arrested for “indecent activity” because he is homosexuality. Because the lack information, we can see people at that time in China, including ordinary people, the upper class and even the homosexuals, don’t know much about homosexuality. It was a disease and a crime. Huang Baowen accepted its value and thought of himself as a sick man. He married Beina just to make a fence to hide his problem of sexuality. If we consider more carefully, Benia and Baowen are complete each other. Beina provides Baowen with love and understanding, Baowen gives Beina a husband. They both give themselves a place to stay and decent life.

In the story the lack information on homosexuality is so different than how we are exposed here in U.S.A. Every day we have people talking on the news on how gay marriage was legalized in a state, we have guys on talk shows explaining about how they found out they are gay, same-sex partners holding hand, everywhere you look you can see signs they homosexuality is not something swept under the carpet and we learned it is as a human nature. myself. I took a lot of herbs and boluses, and even ate bakded scorpions, lizards, and toads. Nothing helped me. Still I’m fond of men. I don’t know why I’m not interested in women” As to people in the factory, some say “Baowen was “impotent” while other believe “he was a hermaphrodite,” even said he had no penis. As the story goes the reader feels sorry for Baowen and unjust punishment for his situation. Baowen explains to Old Chen “If I didn’t marry her, who would? The marriage helps us both, covering me and saving face for her.” (pg 420) What does marriage mean to Beina and baowen? He married Beina to cover up his sexuality in a very judgmental Chinese society and marriage will helped them both.
Baowen explains to Old Cheng “If I didn’t marry her, who would? Covering me and saving face of her.” (pg420) The author wants to show a conflict between society’s values and individual preference and gives good example for the Western readers. In the story show their ignorance of homosexuality at that time in China.