Mulan Transcendentalism
Olivia Borchers
Mrs.Quintus
English III
5 January 2015
Transcendentalism In
Mulan
The Disney movie,
Mulan
, takes place in Ancient China. A tomboy, named
Mulan, decides to take her physically impaired father’s place in the Chinese army.
To do so she has to disguise herself as a male and keep her true identity secret. At the climax of the movie, her true gender is discovered. In the end Mulan is tried and pardoned of her crimes, is given a sword of the enemies military leader, and is proposed to. Throughout the movie transcendentalism characteristics are seen many times. These characteristics include spirituality, nonconformity, and self-reliance. One of the transcendentalism traits is spirituality, and in the chinese culture it is widely believed that an individual's ancestors are to be respected and honored. Often throughout the movie it is shown that Mulan and her family pray to them for wisdom and guidance. One of these scenes that might be the most memorable is when Mulan’s grandmother asks her family’s ancestors for protection and luck for Mulan before she leaves. An ancestor sends Mushu a
“demoted” family guardian to watch over her.
As expected from the movie summary, the most prominent characteristic in the movie is nonconformity. To non-conform is to be an individual and think for yourself. Mulan, along with all other women, was meant to grow up, get married, and bear children to fulfill her duty to the Emperor. Mulan was supposed to do what she was told when she was told and be an image of grace. In China during
the time period which
Mulan
is set, it was outlawled for women to join the army.
Even so she chose to break to the law and join. She became a strong, independent woman: a warrior.
Another trait shown in
Mulan
is self-reliance which is explained as taking responsibility for oneself. As Mulan trains she has to take it upon herself to make-up for lost time which the other males training with her probably had many years to prepare
Mrs.Quintus
English III
5 January 2015
Transcendentalism In
Mulan
The Disney movie,
Mulan
, takes place in Ancient China. A tomboy, named
Mulan, decides to take her physically impaired father’s place in the Chinese army.
To do so she has to disguise herself as a male and keep her true identity secret. At the climax of the movie, her true gender is discovered. In the end Mulan is tried and pardoned of her crimes, is given a sword of the enemies military leader, and is proposed to. Throughout the movie transcendentalism characteristics are seen many times. These characteristics include spirituality, nonconformity, and self-reliance. One of the transcendentalism traits is spirituality, and in the chinese culture it is widely believed that an individual's ancestors are to be respected and honored. Often throughout the movie it is shown that Mulan and her family pray to them for wisdom and guidance. One of these scenes that might be the most memorable is when Mulan’s grandmother asks her family’s ancestors for protection and luck for Mulan before she leaves. An ancestor sends Mushu a
“demoted” family guardian to watch over her.
As expected from the movie summary, the most prominent characteristic in the movie is nonconformity. To non-conform is to be an individual and think for yourself. Mulan, along with all other women, was meant to grow up, get married, and bear children to fulfill her duty to the Emperor. Mulan was supposed to do what she was told when she was told and be an image of grace. In China during
the time period which
Mulan
is set, it was outlawled for women to join the army.
Even so she chose to break to the law and join. She became a strong, independent woman: a warrior.
Another trait shown in
Mulan
is self-reliance which is explained as taking responsibility for oneself. As Mulan trains she has to take it upon herself to make-up for lost time which the other males training with her probably had many years to prepare