. Compare and contrast how the protagonists of RAISE THE RED LANTERN and BLIND SHAFT struggle against a hostile and oppressive social structure. What are the moral costs of this struggle? In particular, how does it affect the way the protagonist or protagonists treat other people? Both films, Raise The Red Lantern directed by Zhang Yimou and Blind Shaft directed by Li Yang, depict a hostile and oppressive social structure in their plots. The environment in which the protagonists reside has a strong influence and effect on their character. It ultimately influences the same principles and beliefs that the protagonists have become accustomed to. The environment also plays a significant role in how these protagonists interact with others. Raise The Red Lantern is a film set in China during the warlord era in the 1920s. The film's story depicts a nineteen-year-old young woman named Songlian. Songlian's father had just died, leaving the family in financial difficulty. For this reason, the young woman's stepmother insists that she no longer attend university and accept an arranged marriage. Of course at that time it was not common for a young woman to attend college. This is important because it shows not only his intelligence, but also his maturity at such a young age. Songlian's maturity goes hand in hand with strong moral standards which ultimately play an important role as the film progresses. Despite her dismay, she gives in to her stepmother's wishes and marries a rich man. When she realizes that by marrying a rich man she would only be a concubine, she replies “isn't this the fate of women?”. He begins his life as a member of the Chen family. Songlian moves into the Chen family compound and serves as the fourth mistress...... middle of paper ......n who are struggling in the midst of a society that is undergoing transformation from a traditional culture to a postcolonial culture. The only space where the viewer can be critical of Sarret is his inability to understand the way he does business. Sarret fails to understand that he must enter into a contract with his passengers before agreeing to provide his services to them. Because he fails to do so, he is always disappointed and, perhaps more importantly, poor. Because of the modern society his city is transforming into, Sarret must understand the commercial side of business. It must make its service requests known and negotiable. He cannot understand this concept and never asks for payment. He behaves like a “traditional” man who continues to assume that payment will be imminent. However, in the changing society in which he resides, this is no longer the case.