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had been old and weak. Mulan was surprised because her father had to join the army, whereas his condition was no longer possible to go.
Based on this case, Mulan interrupted what the emperor’s council said when he was proclaiming the notice. We can take evidence from the sentence
‘please sir, my father has already fought bravely’. From this sentence we see that Mulan besought in order her father allowed not to join the army. It is because her
father had joined the army when he was still young. She thought her father had been old enough and now it was the turn for the younger. Then Chi Fu replied
‘silence You would do well to teach your daughter to hold her tongue in a man’s presence’. It shows that Chi Fu reprimanded Mulan. He asked Fa Zhou to teach
his daughter politeness. Then Fa Zhou told Mulan ‘Mulan, you dishonor me’. It shows that Fa Zhou felt disappointed to Mulan. It is because Mulan had
interrupted what the emperor’s council said in the men’s presence. Actually Mulan’s purpose was well because she helped her father. However, Fa Zhou
thought that Mulan had dishonored her family.
4.2.4 Prohibition to Join Armed Forces
In this film, women also could not join army to defend their country. It will dishonor Chinese army and even for those who break the rule will be killed.
It can be seen from the conversation between Fa Zhou and Fa Li after knowing that Mulan escaped from home, Fa Zhou and Fa Li were anxious. It can
be seen from datum below. 8
Fa Li : You must go after her. She could be killed.
Fa Zhou
: If I reveal her, she will be.
20:30 –
20:40
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The sentence ‘you must go after her. She could be killed’ shows that Fa Li felt anxious. She asked her husband to catch up her daughter. It is because Mulan
could be killed if join the army. However, Fa Zhou could do nothing. It can be seen from the sentence ‘if I reveal her, she will be’. It means if he got Mulan and
revealed her disguise, she would be killed instead. So, it was better for them to let Mulan went away. Therefore, they only could be fateful.
It also can be seen when Shang and Chi Fu finally revealed Mulan disguise.
9 Chi Fu
: I knew there was something wrong with you. A woman.
Treacherous snake.
Mulan : My name is Mulan. I did it to save my father.
Chi fu
: High treason
Mulan : I didn’t mean for it to go this far.
Chi Fu
: Ultimate dishonor.
Mulan : It was the only way. Please believe me.
1:00:50 –
1:01:13 The conversation above took place when Mulan wounded by Shan-Yu’s
sword. It made her had to get medical to treat. Consequently, her disguise was revealed and she got punishment. Even though she tried to give reason why she
did it, it wasted her breathe because Chi Fu did not want to receive her reason. He insulted Mulan on end.
Mulan could not say anymore because Chi Fu and Shang did not believe what Mulan had explained. They ignored Mulan because she was a woman.
Although she had done much contribution but she was regarded as betrayer and dishonor Chinese army. It can be seen from sentence ‘high treason’ and ‘ultimate
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dishonor’. Consequently, she would be killed. Shang as the captain of the army had to execute her. Luckily, Mulan had saved Shang’s life from avalanche before,
so he felt debt in life to Mulan. Therefore, Shang did not kill Mulan. It can be seen from datum below.
10 Shang :
A life for a life. My debt is repaid. Move out
1:01:45 –
1:01:50 The
sentence ‘a life for a life. My debt is repaid’ means that Shang had
replied Mulan’s merit. He had been saved, so he let her alive. Afterwards, Shang and his troops left Mulan alone in snow toward to city. They ignored Mulan even
though Mulan had deserved well of the army and even saved Shang’s life.
4.2.5 Women’s Value as Second Class Citizens
