Women in The Apothecary Diaries
Something I really love about The Apothecary Diaries is the specific way it shows how women survive and navigate oppressive systems. I remember learning about Imperial China in school and thinking about how awful it must have been to be a woman during that era. I was particularly affected by the idea of concubines and their relationship to the emperor. From my perspective at the time, I could not fathom having any sense of personhood in that type of environment.
The Apothecary Diaries does not shy away from depicting how dangerous and stressful life as a woman could be during that time, but it also doesn't use that depiction for the sole purpose of triggering emotions for the audience. I'm used to historical media really milking oppression as a kind of suffering porn for the audience. Look how hard things were back then, and now be sad about it.
The Apothecary Diaries uses oppression to highlight the resourcefulness and intelligence of women. The concubines are constantly navigating the politics of the Rear Palace and making tactical moves to ensure their, their children's, and their family's status. Even if a concubine is used as a "pawn" by her family, the emotional impact on her and her own priorities take center stage. (Honestly, I could do a whole tedtalk on Loulan but thats for another time) There is something so satisfying about seeing women exercise so much agency in that type of environment. Even the courtesans have their own motives and priorities despite having careers which serve men.
Maomao's narration helps the audience understand the oppressive system, and her characterization makes that delivery very matter-of-fact. There's an acceptance in her perspective that all the more highlights how clever she is for being able to navigate the system. She could have been a protagonist that laments her circumstances and constantly rebels, but that would have made the oppression the focal point. Maomao is intriguing because of who she is rather than the circumstances that she is in.
The Apothecary Diaries takes a very firm stance that, no matter the circumstance, women are intelligent, resourceful, and have the capacity for agency.
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