Reaction Essay on The Ghost Bride

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Class Information Date Reaction Essay on the Ghost Bride Introduction The Ghost Bride, written by Yangsze Choo, is set in Malaya in the 1880s and interconnects the demands of the living and the afterlife. The protagonist in this novel is a 17-year-old lady named Li Lan, and she comes from a humble family consisting of her father, Mr. Fan, and her family nurse, Amah. Li Lan is forcefully betrothed to a dead groom called Lim Tian Ching, and she has to navigate the sudden turn of events in her life. She is exposed to ghosts from the afterlife, secrets in the Lim family on an upcoming war, and the death of Tian Ching. Li Lan ends up marrying Er Lang in the afterlife instead of Tian Bai, a cousin to Tian Ching among the living. This essay will give a personal opinion about the text, conduct a character analysis, and discuss major thematic concerns in the novel. Personal Opinion on the Reading The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo is quite unpredictable in many ways, and I never anticipated the main thrust that the novel aimed at. I like how Choo builds up the reader's curiosity throughout the novel by revealing the characters' traits at the right time and applying plot twists with the right intention. What baffled me ultimately was Li Lan choosing to marry Er Lang instead of royalties like Lim Tian Bai and Lim Tian Ching (Choo 307). By constantly subverting my ideas and expectations of the storyline, the author kept me engaged throughout the pages of this novel. Li Lan faces various challenges in the novel, from failing to control her body to conquering Tian Ching’s home among the dead. I appreciate the way the novel naturally molds Er Lang to be the perfect groom for Li Lan. I never saw it coming until details of Lim Tian Bai’s past were brought forward, including associating him with the heir's death, which rendered him an unworthy suitor for Li Lan. Yangsze Choo knows how to bring ghostly elements in this novel using imagery and symbols that any reader can understand easily. I loved how Li Lan interacted with the supernatural world as she learned the deep secrets that helped her triumph against her enemies. The author perfectly connected the land of the dead and the land of the living and how somebody can live in both, as Li Lan did. However, I would have loved detailed background information on the roles of Judges of Hell and Er Lang’s job description. These two areas greatly impacted the overall direction of this novel and will ultimately respond to minor concerns that I have about this novel. Character Analysis Li Lan is the main protagonist and narrator in The Ghost Bride. The story portrays the state of Malaysia in the 1890s and the trials inherent in the afterlife throughout her life. The character of Li Lan is one that every reader will appreciate and acknowledge her actions and decisions throughout the novel. She was born into a low-income family, never saw her biological mother for a long time, and lived with her indebted father, Mr. Pan (Choo 6-10). She is a simple 17-year-old girl who becomes the quintessential romantic heroine in the novel, with Lim Tian Ching and Lim Tian Bai both interested in her. Even though she is gorgeous, she does not dwell on her ...