Q1. In the conversation of Liusu and Liuyuan on page 2751, Liuyuan states, “Real Chinese women are the most beautiful women in the world. They are never out of fashion.” As the ”unreal Chinese women” or non-Chinese readers, what do you think about Liuyuan’s statement? Do you feel being offended or anything regarding to cultural identification? Explain your answer in details.
Q2. ”I don’t know why,” said Liuyuan, looking at her,” but this wall makes me think of …, Liusu, you will honestly care about me, and I will honestly care about you.” (pg. 2753). What do you think about this statement? Hows Liusu and Liuyuan’s relationship at this time? Do they already love each other sincerely or still not yet? Why do you think so?
Q1: I personally don’t take offense to the statement, and I’ve been raised in a dominantly American culture. I also don’t think the sentence is supposed to be offensive in general either. Liuyuan’s statement is his character’s preference in women, and is only meant to further his character profile in the story. Chang is demonstrating a shift/difference in the Chinese culture, and how a man who was raised in a western culture longed for something different than what he was accustomed to. Liuyuan, a man who had many women willing to marry him, still preferred Liusu for her traditional Chinese ways. As described in Chang’s introduction on page 2736, Liuyuan has “come back to China in search of an old China of his imagination.”. He finds this in Liusu – it is not a matter of him or Chang trying to offend the reader. I interpreted “real” Chinese women as a contrast to a newer generation of Chinese women, while I believe you interpreted it as a difference in culture/race.
Q2. The ralationship between Luisu and Liuyuan is seems not to strong to me at this point. “If, at that time, we can meet at this wall, then maybe, Liusu, you will honestly care about me, and I will honestly care about you.” Fan expressed his feeling that they did not love each other truly at the moment. He used to have many dreams about his motherland China but he found all the things about China just disappointed him. Later in the text he talked to Liusu “I know you’re not happy. You’ve certainly seen more than enough of these awful people, and awful things, all around us.”I feel like he thought that Luisu had the same feeling as him and treated her as a real friend who can understand and comfort him. Maybe he also found some characteristics of mother on Bai which made him feel warm and easy. All the things he did have reasons so he tried his best efforts to make Liusu understand him.Maybe he had not loved Liusu so deeply, but at least he wanted her sincerely.