Analysis of Mulan

December 10,2009

In the late 5th century, Chinese men were constructing their Great Wall. Through the eyes of the Chinese Empire, the Great Wall operated as a protective strategy and a symbol of unity and male strength. The 5,553 mile long infrastructure is an icon for the male dominated dynasty throughout the Chinese culture. For the Huns it appeared as a threat to their empirical military capabilities. The Chinese history of the Hun invasion becomes animated in the 1998 Disney musical Mulan. The movie follows the stereotypical Asian family, known as the Fa Family, and their relationship during wartime. Mulan defends her Great Wall but in the same heroic sense is fighting for her own role as a woman in a male focused world while staying “true to [her] heart.” The accurate depiction of Chinese culture and laws rouses American audiences to challenge personal views of gender roles. Women, while they are generally shunned and looked down upon in a stereotypical way compared to their male counterparts, can be pioneers of female heroism despite adversity, both internal and external in nature, to achieve respect and power while defending their way of life.

The story of Mulan begins with the emperor of China instituting a draft, which calls for all first-born men in the family to prepare to mobilize to fight against the Hun’s who have invaded the northern boarders of China. The perspective then switches to focus on one of the effected bourgeoisie family, The Fa’s, who on this day are preparing their tomboy daughter Mulan to meet the matchmaker. Mulan, an only child, is scene as a disappointment to her conservative Chinese family due to her lack of “womanly” skills- such as pouring tea, manners at dinner and putting on makeup. Just as Mulan is deemed a failure, an opportunity to prove her worth arises when an imperial messenger delivers the military duty to the solo male representative of the Fa family, Mulan’s father- who is physically disabled. She feels empathy...