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.”
