Theme for Filial Piety

FILIAL PIETY

filial piety in this story  defines as to be good to one's parents; to take care of one's parents; to engage in good conduct not just towards parents but also outside the home so as to bring a good name to one's parents and ancestors; to perform the duties of one's job well so as to obtain the material means to support parents as well as carry out sacrifices to the ancestors; not be rebellious; show love, respect and support; display courtesy; ensure male heirs, uphold fraternity among brothers; wisely advise one's parents, including dissuading them from moral unrighteousness; display sorrow for their sickness and death; and carry out sacrifices after their death.

In this story, surprisingly the filial piety was not shown by the son, but by the daughter. Usually the son is responsible for the parent’s well-being. If the parents are ageing and are incapable of taking care of themselves, the son is the one who should be responsible of them compare to the female siblings in the family. The son should be the breadwinner supporting his family regardless whether he is married or not. While the daughter if married has to follow their husband wills and only lends a helping hand if needed so. So, it must be difficult for them because they have to get their husband’s permission before make any decision. However, in this story, it is the other way around as Mrs. Wong is the one who took care of her dying mother despite that she has a responsibility towards her husband. While, Ah Kow who is the son neglected his responsibility towards his parents and doesn’t show the filial piety that he is supposed to.

Compare to the short story A Rose for Emily, the filial piety in this story was shown only by Emily because she was the only child in the family. She lives with her father and poured her love solely towards her father and took care of her father until her father’s death. As the story goes by, she obeys her father very much and when her father dies, it took her some time to accept it. She was reluctant to believe that her father had departed to another world.