Tseng’s Heroines: The Importance of Heretics

Azrael Tseng’s Chasing Desire & Other Heretical Stories comprises significant events in history from around the world, from Europe to America to Asia. Some events are more well-known than others. Writing each event in historical fiction highlights the psychology and significance of each character’s destiny. In this particular collection I would like to analyse the heroines, for Tseng reminds us that the heroines or the heretics were significant in the liberty of the modern world. Heresy is a motif among the heroines: Characters who challenge the status quo.
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“A Sea of Glittering Lies” retells the story of the Polish Humanitarian, Irena Stanislawa Sendler, who works for the Polish Underground Resistance, leads the children section of Zegota, and liberates 2,500 Jewish children amidst German occupation in Warsaw. Concealment is a recurring theme in the story, not only from the Gestapo, but even the children. In history Sendler was able to free the Jewish children without forfeiting their locations even amid coercion (Britannica). In the story she also has to conceal discomfort from the children. She lies to an orphan about her parents: “Should I have told her then that her parents are probably dead? Or that they are waiting in a concentration camp somewhere waiting for mercy or death?” (119). This is how Sendler combats the German occupation. Lies are a type of weapon to circumvent the system physically and emotionally. Her dishonesty is a treasure. 

While Sendler was in a subordinate position, other heroines in the collection of stories show their temerity through sheer aptitude. These characters represent androgynous ideals. Tomoe Gozen from the eponymous story “The Last Head of Tomoe Gozen” recapitulates the female warrior who served the Minamoto no Yoshinaka, fighting in the Genpei War (1180-1185), and was considered the first general in Japan. In her victory over Uchida Ieyoshi and Honda no Moroshige in the battle of Awazu, Gozen lives beyond her gender: “Then you are no samurai. A samurai would choose honor above all else -- even love, even life” (26). Her ideals, honor, are more significant than her individuality, her position in society; she further challenges the male ego in her exchange with Hatakeyama who attempts to capture her: “Were it so. He claimed it a shame to die in the company of a woman” (26). According to history, she evades him (Britanica). 

“La Pucelle (The Maid of Orleans)” is perhaps the pinnacle of heretics, the retelling of Joan of Arc in the battle of Orleans. Perhaps other authors have written about her biography with significant details. Here, Tseng does not render her unfortunate end but highlights her strength in combat. She is another heroine who thrives beyond her gender and resists the status of her circumstance. Tseng concentrates on Joan of Arc’s loyalty to God: “To find other men willing to serve God as I do,” (45), “We are done when God says we are done!” (52), and “God, give me strength for I am weak. Help me, please” (54). God represents conditions beyond gender. God is the factor which motivates her to fend off the English in Orleans. God is not the Christian figurehead but an internal force for Joan of Arc. Tseng further underscores the significance of her ideals as he contrasts her to the skeptics. The commander Dunois, The Bastard of Orleans, diatribes against Joan of Arc: “No, it is my plan and these are my men. They will follow my command, not yours. Not even if you invoke His name” (44). God continues to be superior to the status quo. Joan of Arc is a vehicle for God’s end. God is greater than gender. 

Tseng’s heroines appeal to a modern audience, but only by their names and contribution to humanity, but their abilities to thrive beyond the nature of their conditions, even if they make them heretics. Media has begun to spotlight female roles inside and outside art. Countries have even spurned male-dominated governments, such as Japan, to have more female representatives. US female congress members, such as Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Ilhan Omar, fight for women’s rights, perhaps playing as heretics, continuing to challenge the status quo for a more righteous society.

References
Tseng, Azrael. (2020). Chasing Desire & Other Heretical Histories. Independently published.

John Tang - 7 August 2022