Chu Ju's House - Discussion Director

Katherine Harrison

Mrs. Pasic

Language and Literature 7B

Friday, May 6, 2016

Chu Ju’s House - Discussion Director

My group and I finished reading Chu Ju’s House, a novel written by Gloria Whelan. My job is to write a list of questions that my group might want to discuss. I have also written my own answers to the questions.

1.      Why do you think that the forbidden books that were purchased by Ling are dangerous?

China is ruled by the Communist party. In communism, people do not have freedom of speech and expression.  They are not allowed to publicly question government policies, comment and publish criticisms of, or opinions contrary to those of the Communist party.  Any attempt to state arguments or express opinion that may be critical of the values promoted by the Government was likely to be sanctioned. To encourage people to obey, the Government punished those who openly questioned and criticized the system.

The books purchased by Ling were seen as dangerous and a threat to the society, as they were critical of the government and were exposing the truth about the political regime and the ruling party. Being in possession of such books may expose the person to the risk of being punished, imprisoned or deprived of basic rights. For example, Chu Ju can recall the time when a man in the city was placed in a re-education center as punishment for speaking the truth about the political system.

Prachi states, “The books express the truth, and the truth may be dangerous for the government.”

2.      Why doesn’t Han Na believe in the pamphlets that Ling had brought from the agricultural agent in the government office?

Han Na is wise, critical and has learnt not to trust everything she reads or hears, especially if it comes from the Government. She is aware that the government publishes and promotes ideas that are in accordance with its ideology, even if they violate human rights. She does not support the government, and does not agree with the rules and laws imposed on the people by the government. She emphasizes her point of view when she says, “It was the government that put Quan in prison for moving about in his own country. It was the government that told your parents how many children they could have, so babies are sold like so many bags of rice” (Whelan 182).

Prachi states, “Han Na does not believe in the government, she thinks that the government may be lying”.

3.      Why is Han Na so insistent on Chu Ju visiting her family? 

Han Na is insistent that Chu Ju should visit her family because she is herself, a parent and she can understand how anxious and worried her parents must be for not knowing anything about their daughter’s fate and well-being.

Han Na is separated from her son, Quan, who left her to live in Shanghai and pursue his dreams of living and working in a big city. However, Han Na is aware that unlike Chu Ju’s parents, she knows where her son is, and she knows that she can help him if at any stage in his life he may need help. On the other hand, Chu Ju’s parents live are ignorant about Chu Ju’s whereabouts and they do not even know if she is alive.

Prachi states, “Han Na may know how Chu Ju’s parents might be feeling because her son also left her”.

4.    How has Chu Ju’s character developed throughout the novel?

At the beginning of the novel we see Chu Ju, a 14-year-old girl, who appears to be more mature than most of young people her age. She is critical of the system and is aware of the injustice imposed by the communist regime on the Chinese people. In the novel, she turns into a heroine and ends up as the promoter of change in the society.

From the very beginning of the story, we see an outstanding character, a heroine Chu Ju, who strikes us with her wisdom, compassion and selflessness. Even though she is only 14 years old, she is mature and acts as if she was an adult. She is critical of the communist regime. She can see that one-child policy is not fair since it violates basic human rights and she realizes that it is unfair to treat boys and girls differently. She shows understanding and does not judge her family when they make decision to send her sister away to the orphanage, in order to make room for the boy. She shows her selflessness when she decides to sacrifice herself and go into voluntary exile to help her family and her baby sister. As a result of her actions, her sister stays with the family and another baby sister is born. This time, her parents accept the second girl and leave her with the family.  She is a fighter; she brings about the change. She believes that education will help the Chinese people to move forward and combat illiteracy and authoritarian regimes.

Prachi states, “Throughout the novel, Chu Ju learns how to be more independent and open.”

5.      What theme is portrayed in the novel?

The theme of the novel is the need to defy and overthrow totalitarian regimes, since they suppress individual freedoms and rights, including the freedom of choice and freedom of expression. The novel emphasizes that such systems are not natural and that they are doomed to fail. However, in this process, they will cause a lot of misery and suffering to generations of people.

The theme of the novel is also the power of individual and education in the fight against totalitarian regimes, for a more progressive society.

According to Prachi, “The theme of the novel is the importance of maintaining strength and never giving up, even in the most difficult circumstances.”