I realized exactly how much Mulan must have sacrificed to join the army. The source says that the war lasted for ten years. For anyone to fight for ten ears, their country would honor them and be proud. Not to degrade the other warriors, but Mulan served for ten years while concealing her true identity and concealing a secret from everyone around her. I can't believe the struggles Mulan must have had to face.
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Kelly,
ReplyDeleteThere is debate on the amount of time Mulan spent in the military...ten years is most definitely a long time, but some even surmise that she spent decades fighting for China. There is a stanza in the poem that refers to her graying hair. Whether it is just figurative or literal, it is a stark constrast to our present military practices. It puts her sacrifice into a whole new light...and makes you wonder how she kept her gender hidden for so long!
Miss Lindsay