it is about female potential that is “dwarf(ed),” “crippled” and “bound.” The same way a bonsai tree is whittled and re-shaped into a small and domestic plant, so is a woman whittled — reduced to a small-minded and nurturing domestic animal. Both have the potential to be great, bigger than life itself, but society and its gardeners — people, in general — appreciate the tree and the woman better when they are small, cute, and manageable. If either grew too big — they would be out of control — out of man’s control. Thus both the bonsai tree and the girl have to be contained, bound, and shaped to miniature versions of their full potential when they are young, so that they know nothing more, they know nothing else.