‘The harshness of the Tibetan landscape demands resilience and sacrifice. In what ways does Shu Wen’s experience transform her personality and beliefs?’
Xinran’s novel ‘Sky Burial’ outlines the story of a young woman on a harsh quest for love. The Harsh and demanding landscape of Tibet changes Wen in more ways than one throughout the text, transforming her Personality and beliefs, but there is one thing that remains the same in Wen, her love for Kenjun. Wen’s harsh experiences in Tibet changed her dramatically but in the end, her sacrificing Tibetan lifestyle gives Wen a new found strength.
Throughout the text Wen faces the demanding and harsh landscape of Tibet, transforming her personality from that of the average Chinese woman to a strong and highly determined Tibetan woman. Wen entered Tibet mentally weak and unable to cope with the dangers that now stood ahead of her. However thirty years transformed the personality of Wen dramatically, giving her a new found strength and determination which proved enough to survive. This was made evident during her time with the Gela family, as Wen was unable to communicate and was unaware of what was going on around her. This was difficult for Wen, and overtime before her Tibetan language grew strong, Wens determination and strength got her through probably her toughest of years in Tibet. Wen’s personality took a beating in Tibet as she was forced to sacrifice most of her Chinese past, however this gained her strength which was a key ingredient to her survival in the dangerous Tibetan terrain.
Wen’s beliefs are shifted throughout ‘Sky Burial’ as she sacrifices her Chinese lifestyle for the demanding one of the Tibetans. Wen changed many beliefs while in Tibet as she became almost unnoticeable as a Chinese woman anymore. Wen proved this as she became a Buddhist, whispering the words of the Buddhist mantra ‘Om mani padme hum’ under her breath on many occasions. Wen also began to understand the differences