The Plight and Struggle of Female Characters in Classical Drama: A Case Study of Feng Suzhen in Huangmei Opera Nv Fu Ma (The Female Royal Member)

Attention to women's survival and development has been reflected in various aspects of society in different forms in China, including classical dramatic works such as Nv Fu Ma. Currently, some studies, based on plot analysis, classify the Huangmei Opera The Female Royal Member as a comedy. However, when considered from the perspective of its female characters, the tragic undertones beneath the comedic surface become visible. This paper will employ a feminist lens to further explore the tragic core of Nv Fu Ma. Utilizing the method of literature review, this study investigates the plight faced by the character Feng Suzhen, a daughter of an elite family in the feudal era, namely the materialized constraints of feudal ethical codes represented by the "boudoir" and the ideology of "distinction between men and women." Simultaneously, it highlights Feng Suzhen's arduous struggle for marital autonomy, specifically manifested in her cross-dressing as a man to "rescue her beloved Mr. Li. Lang." Through examining Feng Suzhen's rescue mission, this paper reveals the contradiction between feudal ethical codes and marital autonomy as embodied by elite women in the feudal era, thereby contributing to research that showcases women's resistance under feudalism in regional opera from a feminist perspective.