Asian Literature

The Bull

By: Mo Yan

The literature entitled “The Bull” is a heart felting story I’ve read in this subject. Yes, the plot twist is very cliché but for me, the emotion of the story really hit the bullseye to my heart. It is all about a father and son relationship. His son doesn’t want to be with his father or he is not proud to him but then when the emergency happens, his father save the whole village’s life because he killed the bull. After, he realized how blessed and lucky he was about his father. He felt proud about it and love his father unconditionally. The hidden message of that literature is that be happy and contented to the blessing God. You are not yet born but God wrote a story of your life already. Love your father and mother because they are a blessing and they help you live throughout your life.

-Patricia Jeanne Cesar

This story is all about jealousy. In this world, jealousy is visible. Every people want to be perfect, so what they see in other people they also want it in their selves. Same in the story the father, he has many enemies because other butchers are jealous of him. The people their also want to make fun of him, that's why his child face the consequence. The lesson that I've learned from this story is that we should be contented of what we have and all of us are unique in our own ways.

-Pamela Panes

The story entitled Bull by Mo Yan is an excerpt from a novel set in rural Chinese village where "blood money" of commerce rules. Which focuses on the villagers and the slaughter business in their village? A man named Lao Lan is a rich official who introduces the water injection method in meat for selling to make it look fresher however compared to his meat the other people's meat are maggot-infested if it didn't sell the first day which made the people realize that he's cheating. By this it revolves around on the bloody commerce; the willingness of a merchant to cheat and the mysterious ways of a salesman in doing business. However, a man named Luo Tong that Lao Lan did not use water in injecting his meat instead he uses formaldehyde that can kill bacteria and helps prevent it from spoiling and believes that it is not a good way on gaining wealth.

The strength of the story is the presence of Luo Tang because by that the son describes his father as a good person by comparing him to a tiger and that the story highlights the importance of humility as a person and dignity.

-Roa Jane Pantinople

"Bull" is a story written by Mo Yan. This story is all about a boy who lived in a village of butchers with his parents. The father is skilled at judging the weight of the cattle and is respected (and paid) for his talents. Because of this, traders liked him so some local butchers got envy to him and tries to embarrass the father. The boy was humiliated by this so he cursed and shouted his father but his father will just be quiet the whole time. But then, the butcher’s bull rebels and only the boy’s father can save the day. With that, the boy felt proud for his father and learned to respect his father.

Overall, the story is very nice to read. Even though it is lengthy but you will enjoy reading along the way. This story is not for kids because there are dialogues that are very vulgar and not appropriate to the young aged.

-Mikaella Joy Perez

The Bull is written by Mo Yan opens with a technical detail about forcing water through the arteries of slaughtered animals. Lao Lan used a bit of formaldehyde to keep his animals looking fresher than the other butcher’s wares. Luo Tong, his father, was an expert at judging animals- he would look at any beast and guess the weight and overall meat content. In a brief interlude, we see that Luo Tong is cheating with Auntie Wild Mule. The story is likely about a village and Luo Tong’s proficiency at his sill. When the story, turned around, Lao Lan, goes to remove his large bull from the premises and he got chased and had given no assistance by Luo Tong whom he just insulted.

-Paul Adrie Teoxon