RAMIFICATIONS OF LOVE-SICKNESS IN LISA SEE’S PEONY IN LOVE

Abstract

In Lisa See’s Peony in Love, the love-sick lady Peony undergoes anorexia which ultimately ends in her death. Anorexia and foot binding are the deformities of the female body and these abnormalities use numerous symbols to communicate.The reluctance to eat or consuming the same meals over and over again is shown in the novel as manifestations of a psychologicalbreakdown.This article aims to identify these anorexia concepts in this novel. Anorexia arises to Peony because of her love towards Wu Ren. After their three-day meeting, Peony fell completely in love with Wu Ren. Peony's constant remembrance of him throughout her calligraphy practise, zither playing, and embroidery lessons served as evidence of her love for him.The outcome also demonstrated that Peony's life changed as a result of her meeting Wu Ren, which led her to violate social conventions, go through emotional trauma, and develop lovesickness, all of which contributed to her death.

Keywords: social conventions, love-sickness, anorexia, death