Read the article “Ma Zhiyuan (fl.1251) autumn in the Palace of Han, A Yuan Dynasty play” and give answer to the following question:

In Yuan dynasty plays, typically, only one character gets to sing. In this play that character is the emperor. Why do you suppose only one character sings--and why is that character in this play the emperor? What purpose does the singing serve in the drama? How do the emperor's different melodies express different ideas, themes, or concepts? (For example, you could compare and contrast two of his singing parts, such as 'she paints her brows' vs. 'I thought you generals'.)