Object of the Study
A moment later he turned to me. I expected him to speak but he didn’t. “You are not Chinese, are you?” he finally asked. His eyes were on my
unbound feet. “No, sir,” I replied. “I am Manchu.”
“How old are you? Fifteen?” “Seventeen.”
He nodded. His eyes continued to travel up and down, examining me.
“The road is filled with bandits,” he said. “A pretty girl like you should not be walking.” p.11
From the statement, it could be seen that the beauty of Orchid was mesmerized the people around even her appearance looked like a beggar. Her beauty makes her
pass the selection to be the candidates of consort. When she worked for Big Sister Fann, she discouraged Orchid when Orchid wanted to join the decree but it did not
stop her. The next morning she went to the local courthouse and the guard said that Orchid was qualified to be the candidates.
I went up to the man and got down on my knees. I stated my name and age. I said that my father was from Yehonala clan and was the late taotai
of Wuhu. “No, sir,” I replied.
“I am not allowed to let anyone enter the palace looking like a beggar.” “Well, may I have your permission to ask whether I am qualified for the
entrance? If I can get a yes from you, sir, I shall find a way to prepare my appearance.”
“Do you think I’d bother to waste my breath if I didn’t find you qualified?” p.24
The statement of the guard implied that the beauty of Orchid was qualified. Unfortunately, she does not have proper clothes to enter the palace. Then she tells
Big Sister Fann that she passed the entrance exam and she just admitted her beauty after study Orchid’s features. From then, Big Sister Fann helps her and
transforms her into a princess. To explore more about characteristics of Orchid, the theory of
characterization by Murphy is needed. There are nine ways of characterization but
the writer uses only seven ways to help the readers understand the characteristics of the main characters. Those seven ways are personal descriptions, character as
seen by another, speech, past life of the character, thoughts, reactions, and mannerisms. From those seven ways, the writer concludes that Orchid has four
characteristics. Those characteristics are