Essay Questions

What is the main satire in ‘Mulberry and Peach’ by Hualing Nieh?

Throughout the text, the reader realizes that identity is the central irony. The title of the book itself is satirical because we encounter one person with two personalities. Mulberry changes her character while in America so that she can adapt to the new environment. She assumes that her past is gone, but the reality is different. She changes her name to 'Peach,' but deep in her heart, she knows that she has disguised herself to blind those around her. Despite becoming Americanized so quickly, the narrator is still haunted by her past.

How does identity crisis emerge as the central theme in the story?

It is evident throughout the text that the protagonist is suffering from a split character. The protagonist’s split personality has been caused by the Chinese cultural revolution taking place in the 20th century. Mulberry and Peach are symbolic of the cultural and identity crisis that many Chinese suffered during the communist revolution. The thematic analysis of this text points out that Mao was an ancient culture that later transformed into modern personalities reflected in Mulberry and Peach's lives.

Why is Mulberry and Peach running away from China?

Mulberry and Peach are running away from the political mayhem in China. However, when they arrived in America, Mulberry and Peach met the immigration officer described as the ‘Man’ who wanted to deport them. The reader is surprised that despite being a young girl, Mulberry knew everything that was going on in her country and she opted to relocate to a safer country. While in China, the narrator was arrested because she was assumed to be a communist. The Chinese authorities were keen on capturing any communist, which explains why the narrator was running away.