Disobedience of Confucian Rules in Maxie Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior

This study aims to examine and analyze the disobedience of Confucian rules depicted in the literary work The Woman Warrior written by Maxine Hong Kingston and published in 1976. The research employs a qualitative method, with the novel serving as the primary source of data. Supporting information is drawn from secondary sources such as scientific books, journal articles, and online as well as offline library research. The data are collected through comprehensive reading and note-taking to identify elements that are relevant to the research focus. All significant findings are then categorized and analyzed using feminist literary theory. The main objective of this study is to explore how the characters in the novel resist or disobey traditional Confucian rules, especially those that marginalize or suppress women. Through close reading, the research identifies several Confucian rules that perpetuate gender inequality, including arranged marriages (match-making), the difference between boys and girl, humility, husband‟s and wife‟s duties, wholehearted devotion, and the silencing of women. These rules are shown to restrict women‟s autonomy and hinder their personal growth. The results reveal that acts of disobedience become a form of resistance against cultural oppression. The study emphasizes that women should be encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, reject traditional roles that confine them to domestic spaces, and claim the freedom to engage in both domestic and public spheres. Moreover, women should have the courage to become independent individuals who are able to speak up for themselves and challenge rules that deny them the opportunity to pursue their dreams.