A Widow's Pain

Pain of a Widow

An Analysis of Li Qingzhao’s Poetry

Born into a family of literary talent, it was almost expected of Li Qingzhao to become an amazing poet. Li Qingzhao’s poetry was well known before she was an adult, but would only get better with time, especially after meeting her husband Zhao Mingcheng. Zhao Mingcheng, like Li Qingzhao, loved literature but as the years went by his passion and love grew to obsession. As their marriage progresses, Li Qingzhao describes it as something that can only be considered rocky and troubled; Li Qingzhao was, however, still deeply in love with her husband. After her husband’s death, the audience can really tell how lonely she must have felt. The way she identifies herself as a widow through reoccurring themes in her poems of loss makes it difficult for one’s heart not to break.

A theme that Li Qingzhao uses frequently is that of night and dusk. Having connotative meanings like death and despair, these themes work perfectly with the pain that Li Qingzhao is trying to convey to the audience. Especially in the months when the nights become longer can the audience feel this inner-turmoil that Li Qingzhao experiences every day. In 17.10, Li Qingzhao describes the night of the Festival of Double Nine, yet instead of feeling joy and celebrating by drinking chrysanthemum tea, she is hurt by the memories of what is no longer there.

On the jade pillow – through mesh bed curtain –

The chill of midnight starts seeping through.

…………………………………………………………………..

Don’t say one can’t be overwhelmed:

When the west wind furls up the curtain,

I’m more fragile than the yellow chrysanthemum. (4-5, 8-10)

The festival of Double Nine was one that her husband liked especially because his favourite poet, Tao Yuanming, wrote about chrysanthemums. Keeping that in mind, the audience can now almost shudder at the cold not only felt from being alone on this autumn night but the nostalgia that the cold brings with it. The setting of the...