Feminism promotes equality of men and woman in terms of social, economic, and political aspects. In Dai Sijie’s Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie, the protagonist and his best friend Luo have set out to educate a young girl from a rural village, who they meet as part of their reeducation. She is called the Little Seamstress. The Little Chinese Seamstress is a strong female protagonist who takes control of her future, despite the stereotypes of Luo and narrator. Balzac’s Little Chinese Seamstress demonstrates feminist literature by using the Little Seamstress in order to show women that they can achieve the same goals as men.
The Little Seamstress disproves this at the end of the novel. The narrator’s description of her at first meeting gives the impression she is a young girl who enjoys sewing for men. It suggests that her character is feminine and childlike. The narrator places a lot of emphasis on the Little Seamstress’s appearance and clothing. He even mentions that her pink shoes caught his eye because they looked sophisticated and delicate (Sijie 21, 21). In this first meeting, there are no personality traits mentioned. However, the narrator pays great attention to her appearance and dress, mentioning that even her pink shoes “caught the eye, seeming delicate and sophisticated” (Sijie 21). Luo and narrator objectify the Little Seamstress before even knowing her. When the Little Sewing Machine tells the boys that she can’t read, it’s because she enjoys talking with people who know how to read and write. She quickly demonstrates her intelligence by addressing the stereotypes that may be held about her. The feminist undertone is evident in this story, as the Little Seamstress expresses her desire to be treated on an equal level with men despite her past setbacks. Though she is described stereotypically by the narration, the actions of Little Seamstress demonstrate a strong woman who wants to learn but hasn’t had the chance yet.
As the book progresses she becomes more confident and starts to reject misogynistic thoughts. Little Seamstress is clear when talking about the tradition she has of diving in the lake to retrieve Luo’s keys. She doesn’t do this because someone told her. She counters any impression that might be given by this situation, saying “I am not like a stupid dog who keeps running after the stick its master throws” (Sijie 144) The Little Seamstress’s use of “silly” implies that she knows what she’s doing and is not stupid. Luo doesn’t control her Little Seamstress, and she does not allow Luo to do so. They have a balanced relationship. In recognizing that she can control her own life, Little Seamstress gains more power to explore new things and learn.
By the end of book, Little Seamstress is no longer limited by the men’s influence. She realizes that she has the power to become more than a village child and she wants to discover her potential outside the mountain. Her actions were impacted by small things such as changing her hair. While short hair and long hair are generally seen as feminine, The Little Seamstress is a woman who breaks many of those standards. This hairstyle change is also a sign of her change in character after reading feminist texts. One of the main reasons why this book is a feminist one is the last line. It states that “[the Little Seamstress] had said that she’d learnt from Balzac one thing: that the beauty of a woman is treasure without price” (Sijie 184). Sijie’s decision to focus the last sentence of his book on feminism gives a clear indication of the feminist nature of Balzac and The Little Chinese Seamstress. It is a great way to sum up the book. The Little Seamstress’ interpretation of this quote is that it represents inner beauty. She was motivated by her belief that she would be able to accomplish more on her own. This idea was rare at the time. These books have given the Little Seamstress a sense of empowerment that she never would have experienced before. The boys’ attempt to educate and control the Little Seamstress was what ultimately drove her away.
In Balzac’s Little Chinese Seamstress she makes significant progress in her knowledge and confidence. Early on, her boldness is apparent. She has not had the opportunity to develop fully because she does not have the knowledge. When she finally realizes what she is capable of as a female, she makes the most of all opportunities that are presented to her. Balzac’s Little Chinese Seamstress is a feminist novel that shows Dai Sijie’s journey to female empowerment.
