The Peony Pavilion Scenes 41–55
The Peony Pavilion is a romantic play that features two lovers who have to undergo several hardships before they can live happily. The play represents the Ming Dynasty elements, portraying human relationships and power play during this reign. When two people love each other, they can do anything to be together, as we see in the lives of Li Mengmei and Bridal Du.
The forty-first scene is about the palace exams, which Miao Shunbin administers to students. Meanwhile, Liu Mengmeni arrives late for the exams and begs Miao to take the exams (Tang 229). Miao allows him because he knows that he is a bright student. The same scene also introduces us to a counselor reporting of an attack in one of the empire’s territories. Following the announcement of the impending attack, Du Bao, a commissioner, in scene forty-two, has to decide to send troops to the area under attack after some of his messengers report to him about the developments in the area. He arranges to ride with them to the location. In scene forty-three, Du Bao and his troops plan an attack on the raiders. They assemble and take instructions on what each one has to do to make the plan work.
Meanwhile, in scene forty-four, after taking the exam, Liu Mengmei returns to Bridal Du, who is also the daughter of Du Bao. He tells her how he almost missed the exam and the impending attack (Tang 248). She gets worried because the region is under her father’s command. She fears for his life and that of her mother. In scene forty-five, outside the besieged city, the rebels plan on sending somebody to Du to negotiate with him. They want him to surrender because they feel that they have been holding on for too long. They select a person that Du knows to deliver the message. The messenger arrives at Du’s place in scene forty-six. He tells Du what the rebels sent him. Du devises a plan to counter the insurgents.
The messenger from the rebels returns from Du in scene forty-seven. He carries a message that offers peace and gifts for the rebels (Tang 263). Meanwhile, the insurgents also receive a guest from one of their old allies. He tries to threaten them to take their side or face some form of punishment. In scene forty-eight, Bridal Du is reunited with her mother after a long period of separation. In scene forty-nine, Liu Mengmei travels to Huaiang, the besieged city, to see Du and let him know that Bridal Du is safe. He arrives in scene fifty, and Du organizes a peace banquet. Li submits a poem that he has written for Du. After the rebels surrender, Miao Shunbin appoints the people involved in the mission to some high positions at the imperial palace in scene fifty-one. In scene fifty-two, Liu Mengmei is wanted at the palace for the scholars’ banquet, but he cannot be found. The palace guards have to look for him. They find him in a jail in scene fifty-three. He is released, and they take him with them to Du. In scene fifty-four, word reaches Madam Du and Bridal Du that Li has been found and is safe. They have been waiting for this news anxiously. Li and Bridal reunite at the imperial court in scene fifty-five.
To summarize this paper, the lives of Li Mengmei and Bridal Du show us that two people who are in love can withstand a lot of things to be together. Li takes an exam late and rides through harsh conditions to fulfill the wishes of his bride. On the other hand, she has to get away from her parents because of the love they share. The reunification at the end of the play shows that love eventually conquers all other forces.