THE APOTHECARY

DIARIES
and Marxist Feminism
Presented by G Sree Kamya
(R21AA011)
 CONTENTS
1. Marxist Feminism
2. Characters and Plot
3. Maomao and her Past from a Marxist
Feminist Perspective
4. Maomao and her Present from a
Marxist Feminist Perspective
5. Conclusion
MARXIST
FEMINISM
 MARXIST FEMINISM

The Marxist Feminist theory was a branch of the

theory proposed by Karl Marx with a focus on the
impact of capitalism on female lives.
It directly corelated the concepts of masculinity and
capitalism, explaining that men’s labour was
appropriately compensated while women’s
“reproductive” labour was not appropriately
compensated, therefore putting them at a
disadvantage in society
the theory did largely fall out of popularity after the
fall of communism in the 1990s, however it
introduced the idea of economic influence to the
feminist theories.
the discussion surrounding production and creation
of material resource and their relation to the female
body, as well as it’s relationship to other bodies has
been shaped by this theory.
CHARACTERS
AND PLOT
 MAIN CHARACTERS

Maomao: the daughter of an aged apothecary, Maomao takes

a great interest in poisons and constantly experiments on
herself.
Jin shi: Jin shi is shown to be eunuch in the emperor’s Inner
Court, Jin Shi is in fact the crown prince and is placed as bait to
test the emperor’s concubine’s fidelity.
The Three Princesses of The Verdigris House: the highest
entertainers at the brothel where Maomao was raised, Parin,
Meimei and Joka are like older sisters, mothers and caregivers
to Maomao.
MAIN CHARACTERS

The Old Woman: the owner of the Verdigris House, she is

shrewd and constantly threatens Maomao with the prospect of
becoming an entertainer.
Luomen: Maomao’s adoptive father and the reason she
becomes an apothecary
The Four Main Concubines: Gyokuyou (MaoMao’s employer),
Lihua, Lishu and Ah-Duo (later replaced by Loulan) are the four
main concubines of the inner court, who’s children are most
likely to become heirs to the throne
 PLOT

The story revolves around Maomao, a lowly born apothecary girl

living in the Pleasure District of her city. Maomao enjoys working
with poisons and is kidnapped while hunting for herbs. She is
turned over to the Inner Courts as a servant girl, but after solving a
longstanding and fatal mystery afflicting two of the four main
concubines, she is recruited by Jin Shi and Gyukuyou to become
the poison tester for the Jade Pavilion. Her ability of solving
mystery and eccentricity endear her to Jin shi who continues to
take her help at any given opportunity
MAOMAO AND HER PAST
FROM A MARXIST
FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE
 BACKGROUND

Maomao’s past is deeply rooted in the traumatic

circumstances of her birth.
Her mother, once a Princess of the Verdigris House,
becomes pregnant, hoping to reduce her own retail
value so that her favourite client can buy her out.
This client unexpectedly leaves town for too long.
This results in Maomao’s mother having to entertain
any and all customers due to her reduced value. She
contracts a venereal disease and is never the same
ANALYSIS
The women of the Verdigris house don’t always entertain clients with
sexual favours, they rarely do since the price for such is higher than
the price for conversation, company and engaging in music, dance
or games of chess or go.
Therefore the women’s worth isn’t intrinsically linked to their sexual
or reproductive appeal. It is linked to their ability to perform and
entertain
From a Marxist Feminist perspective, most of these women would be
seen as victims of a patriarchal system that profits off their bodies.
However, it is important to consider the hierarchy and the difference
between the Three Princesses and a lower entertainer
ANALYSIS
The Three Princesses are so expensive, only extremely rich nobelty
can dream of meeting them regularly. “Buying them out” (wherein
the women are exchanged for a sum of money) is virtually
impossible.
On the other hand, we see what happens to Maomao’s mother.
She is made to perform sexually for almost any man because of
her loss of status.
Therefore, in this segment the compensation or monetary reward
is given for the woman’s performative ability instead of
reproductive.
A reproductive ability is not rewarded but instead punished.
ANALYSIS
This shapes Maomao’s world view, and she, like her mother, becomes
bitter towards the man that abandoned both of them.
This also effects her sense of self and understanding of the world. She
knows that she lacks performative ability and therefore cannot be a
good entertainer, which will mean having to rely on sexual
performance; leading her to reject the life entirely
She doesn’t see herself as special, she knows she isn’t ugly (furthering
her dependence on sexual appeal were she to be an entertainer) but
she ensures she looks that way to avoid unwanted attention.
She easily places herself in the world as a woman of lowly birth who
has to use all the ammunition she has to get what she wants
ANALYSIS

Therefore, Maomao’s past places an importance on the performative

ability of a woman and is willing to compensate the woman for it.
The compensation involves the selling of the women’s bodies but they
are by no means reduced to that.
The Old Woman of the House ensures her girls are well cared for and
she, along with the Three Princess constantly remind Maomao to bring
more customers.
Therefore, they do not see their way of life as shameful. Throughout
the narration they are seen as people who are simply doing a job
MAOMAO AND HER
PRESENT FROM A
MARXIST FEMINIST
PERSPECTIVE
 BACKGROUND

After being appointed the poison tester of The Jade Pavillion,

Maomao’s life gets considerably better. She has an arsenal of
woman gushing over her and the undivided attention of Jin Shi
But where Maomao doesn’t change much, the hierarchy
surrounding her swivels to the opposite direction
In the Inner Court, only the concubines in the Emperor’s harem,
the servant girls and the eunuchs are allowed.
Here the worth of a concubine is determined by her breeding
and her ability of breeding
ANALYSIS

Here, the typical tenants of the Marxist Feminist theory apply to

some degree: the women are judged and ranked based on the social
status for their family and their ability to produce an heir
During the first season, Ah-Duo, the oldest Concubine, is unable to
produce an heir and is replaced by Loulan.
These women too however, aren’t exactly working without reward,
but the reward is used more as bait than appreciation.
The concubine that is able to produce an heir that survives and
pleases the Emperor will be next in line for the throne, making them
the Empress Dowager
The women must fight for the attention of the Emperor- as wives
and mothers
ANALYSIS

This adds an interesting layer to the idea of Marxist Feminism:

competition amongst women.
Not only are these women not compensated for their reproductive
labours as men are for their productive labour, their abilities are
compared and contrasted against each other.
This competition is seen as completely normal- after all, these four
women are competing amongst themselves but there are at least
fifty women under them competing against each other and the top
four.
This competition further diminishes their value as people and makes
them appear more like machines who’s worth is determined by their
product
ANALYSIS

However, that last sentiment more clearly echoes capitalism

than communism. That breaks the relation of capitalism to
masculinity-to some degree.
An observation here is, in this set up the men are providing a
service as soldiers, generals and leaders whereas the women
are producing tangible children, that are being used to
measure their mother’s worth, much like a vendor’s worth is
measured in a market by their goods.
Therefore, though it may initially appear to be a typical
variant of Marxist Feminist ideology is in fact reversed or
mirrored.
CONCLUSION
 CONCLUSION

. Maomao’s worlds may initially seem to echo the arguments

presented by Marxist Feminists
But in truth, they are reversed or fractured in some or the other,
making them more complex and interesting
The parallels between The Verdigris House and Inner Courts are
incredibly clear, but the differences between them are also stark.
Nevertheless, they include women that are working within their
systems and doing what they can to survive.
The presence of patriarchy is undeniable but it’s connection to
capitalism is doubtful or muddled.
THANK YOU
EVERYONE