(TERRITORIALISM) My Kingdom

THEORY

TERRITORIALISM

-It discusses how an individual tries to protect his/ her possessions.
-It is creating a specific boundaries or markers on certain things.

TITLE

MY KINGDOM

SYNOPSIS

In the closing days of the 19th century, the Prince Regent of the crumbling Qing Dynasty orders the mass execution of the entire Meng clan. Before his beheading in a crowded Beijing marketplace, the Meng clan leader vows that his family will avenge this travesty of justice. Awaiting his death, a five-year-old Meng boy named Erkui bravely sings an aria. The power and purity of his voice touches the onlookers including opera star Master Yu Shengying and his seven-year-old pupil Guan Yilong. Deeply moved, Master Yu rescues the boy and the two orphans, Yilong and Erkui, become brothers. Years later, Master Yu wins the coveted golden "Wu Sheng Tai Dou" (“The Mightiest Warrior”) plaque from the Prince Regent, but subsequently loses it in a duel with his archrival Master Yue Jiangtian. Banished from the stage upon his loss, Master Yu spends his time training Yilong and Erkui in Peking Opera and martial arts, perfecting their skills. When the boys grow into men, they set off for Shanghai to pursue revenge and reclaim the plaque from Master Yue. Once they reach Shanghai, they quickly defeat Master Yue, reclaiming not only the plaque but also becoming the new masters of Yue’s opera troupe. Almost overnight, they become sensations of the Shanghai opera scene along with Master Yue’s protégé and former lover, the beautiful actress Xi Mulan. But soon, their collective pasts catch up with them and all three ends up in a complex web of love, lust, deceit and betrayal, ultimately ending in tragedy.

ANALYSIS

Actually, the story of My Kingdom has many themes and there are also many theory of literary criticism that can be seen here. I chose to focus on Territorialism. 

It all began when the Prince Regent gave the “The Mightiest Warrior” golden plaque to Master Yu. Master Yue, then, challenged him that whoever will win shall take the golden plaque and whoever will lose shall not perform on stage anymore. In the end, Master Yue won and took the golden plaque as he went back to Shanghai. 

Upon the completion of Er Kui and Yi Long's training, they made their mission to avenge for their master. They went to Shanghai and did all they can, with all their might to get back the golden plaque of  "The Mightiest Warrior".

That part of the story can define what Territorialism is all about.