The Boxers And Saints Essay

No two people are the same. The way we choose to balance different aspects of ourselves to create our identity vary from person to person. The balance between one’s national identity and personal autonomy can be drastically different causing each individual’s actions and reactions to differ in various situations. In 1898, a group of poor farmers from Northern China created a secret group known as the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists, also called “The Boxers,” who roamed around China trying to restore justice by killing foreigners. The Boxers hated the foreigners because they did not respect Chinese traditions or culture and tried to convert the Chinese to Christianity. As a result, many Chinese people had to take actions based on whether
Bao is more of a determined, traditional Chinese boy who believes in and follows the his national identity. His father is a poor farmer who was badly beaten after trying to complain about foreigners in his village. As a result, Bao learns kung-fu and leads the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists into battles across China in order to, in his eyes, restore justice. On the other hand, Vibiana is a conflicted but strong girl who is treated as an outcast by her family and village. After her village shuns her, Vibiana finally finds a place within the Chinese Christians who welcome and convert her to Christianity. However, after converting to Christianity, she is faced with many problems which force her to make decisions about how to balance her Chinese Nationalist identity with her personal autonomy. In the graphic novels Boxers & Saints, Yang explores whether the right balance between an individual’s national identity and personal autonomy can be achieved and affect one’s actions which lead to a good