“Nothing we learned in class, though, would protect us when the Cultural Revolution broke out the following year. Not even the Chairman knew that teenagers in the cities would be the first to volunteer for his campaign, the first to raise their fists against their teachers and their parents, against most anyone in authority.”
The passage emphasizes the surprise that came with the Cultural Revolution. The Chairman himself was unaware of the role that young people would play in it, and how they would be the first to volunteer and raise their fists against authority figures. It is a reflection of the power of the Chairman's cult of personality, which was so effective in manipulating young people into believing that the Cultural Revolution was necessary and right. It also speaks to the power of the propaganda and indoctrination of the Chinese Communist Party, which was so successful in convincing young people to take part in a chaotic and often violent campaign. Hua's novel examines the revolution through Mei, an idealistic teenage girl from a remote, poor village. Through Mei's experience, we can see how the Party's propaganda was able to influence her and other young people, convincing them to take part in the revolution. The novel illustrates the devastating effects of the Cultural Revolution, both on the individuals involved and on the country as a whole. Thus, this quote speaks to the power of Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party and highlights the manipulation and control they had over the people.
“With the death of the Chairman, my memories of him are coming back stronger—in a reckoning that’s long overdue.”
Mei had experienced a complex relationship with the Chairman during her time at the Lake Palaces. She was a young girl longing for the approval of a powerful figure, while also being used as a tool in his political scheming. The memories of this experience were suppressed, but upon the news of his death, they begin to come back in a long overdue reckoning. The quote implies that with the death of the Chairman, Mei's memories of him are coming back with greater intensity, perhaps reflecting a sense of guilt or regret for her involvement in his regime. It also suggests that Mei is now coming to terms with the fact that she was complicit in the violence and brutality of the Cultural Revolution. The quote highlights Mei's growing awareness of the consequences of her actions and her sense of responsibility during the revolution. Thus, it demonstrates that the memories of our past can be powerful and difficult to process, but that it is important to take the time to confront and deal with them.
“To become a hero, your life had to be worn away, worn smooth, until you were blank, the barest of outlines. Only then could you become a light leading the people of this generation, the next, and the next. That is how people preferred their heroes—at a remove.”
This citation highlights the idea that to be a hero, one must be willing to give up his or her own identity to be effective. Heroes are often seen as larger-than-life figures, disconnected from their own lives, emotions, and experiences. They are seen as blank outlines that can be molded into a light that leads the people in the present, as well as those of future generations. The statement alludes to the idea that these girls are treated as if they are blank slates, to be used for the benefit of the Party and its ideals. This notion is further explored in the novel, where Hua examines the treatment of women revolutionaries and how their stories have been rewritten or erased by those in power to make them heroic figures. Mei Xiang's experiences in the capital expose her to the double standard of how women are expected to behave and the lengths they must go to gain respect and recognition. Hua highlights the idea that women must endure, both the challenges of life and the efforts of those in power to rewrite their stories, to be seen as heroes. This quote from the novel speaks to the idea that to be accepted, women must often sacrifice their individuality and be reduced to a blank slate for the benefit of others.
