“every inch of fragile innards has a thousand threads of sorrow.” Homie what?
I know this attribution is somewhat dubious, but this one does make me think about how much time in this body of work Li Qingzhao seems to spend waiting, rather than in action—and waiting for impossible or indeterminate things, with no fit thing to do with herself that could possibly re-channel her emotions and ease them. In a way you could argue there’s something modern/capitalist in wanting someone to use their time better, but then also, is there not something classed as well as gendered in her miserable ‘leisure’? She can’t really take up a position as mistress of a house for *herself*, and in unsettled days. What is she supposed to do?
Re: 3.43
I know this attribution is somewhat dubious, but this one does make me think about how much time in this body of work Li Qingzhao seems to spend waiting, rather than in action—and waiting for impossible or indeterminate things, with no fit thing to do with herself that could possibly re-channel her emotions and ease them. In a way you could argue there’s something modern/capitalist in wanting someone to use their time better, but then also, is there not something classed as well as gendered in her miserable ‘leisure’? She can’t really take up a position as mistress of a house for *herself*, and in unsettled days. What is she supposed to do?