My name is Madeline Derango, and I am a sophomore at North Central College majoring in History and minoring in Conflict Resolution and Political Science. As a student, I am involved in several campus organizations. I am the fundraising chair of the Mock Trial Team, an editor for the Illinois State Bar Association Journal, a member of the Ethics Bowl, a Leadership, Ethics, and Values Scholar, and a Resident Assistant on campus. In addition to participating in various groups on campus, I have also studied abroad in both Spain and Japan. Upon completing my undergraduate degree, I will attend law school, where I hope to pursue either international law or criminal law.
In my history classes, I have had the opportunity to explore various cultures and traditions, learning about the history of several groups across the world. While I have enjoyed all my history classes, I quickly became captivated by Chinese history after taking a Traditional Chinese History class. Because China has existed for centuries, it has cultivated a rich, dynamic history that captured my attention instantly. After learning more about Chinese history, I began to find Chinese law particularly fascinating; as a result, I did research the integration and application of both uncodified and codified law in Chinese society pre- and post-Tang Code.
In my reading of The Story of the Stone, I will continue to research legal history in China. I will focus my reading of the novel on the application of legal principles to everyday life. In particular, I will study the proceedings and applications of the law in the novel’s two murder trials. I will analyze not only the codified law enforced in the novel, but also the uncodified, unspoken laws that governed society during the Qing dynasty. Uncodified laws can range from informal mediation sessions to the way that people did business. Both codified and uncodified laws shape the legal system of a nation. The law is a critical facet for understanding any nation and its peoples. The legal system of a nation reflects the values and ideas that a community shares; as a result, studying the law can give important insights into culture and history. By analyzing The Story of the Stone through a legal lens, I will gain insight into the values and customs that shape Chinese society. Understanding previous legal systems also gives insight into the current legal system that shapes China. The law is a critical part of society, providing insights into the Qing dynasty culture and society that shaped and influenced modern China.
Below are my questions based on the reading from Chapters 1-5.
We have seen through Bao-yu in the most recent chapters that gender fluidity and identity will play a large role in the novel. What do you think the author is trying to communicate with this idea, and how will it shape the major themes of the novel?
In Chapter 4, the author describes a murder case and the subsequent trial. In this trial, the author makes it clear that there is a level of corruption in the legal system. Do you think corruption was this rampant, or is the author coming from a place of bias?
In Chapter 3, we were introduced more to Bao-yu. While we have only heard some of his story, do you think he will come to be characterized as a hero? An antihero? How do you think his characterization will change throughout the novel.
How do you think the lavishness and the wealth of the families is portrayed in the novel? Is it positive/negative, and will it change throughout the novel?
The Story of the Stone 