Essay Questions

In what ways does the novel challenge traditional definitions of beauty?

The novel critiques the deeply rooted cultural expectations of beauty by illustrating how these standards often come at the expense of women's autonomy and well-being. Mei Lan's bound feet symbolize the harmful pursuit of socially constructed ideals. What was meant to make her appear delicate and desirable instead leaves her physically scarred and emotionally insecure. This contradiction exposes the irony of beauty practices that glorify suffering.

At the same time, Ah Zhao provides a counter-narrative by reframing flaws as marks of individuality. When he paints both his "big nose" and Mei Lan's broken toes, he celebrates difference rather than erasing it. His act transforms imperfections into art, suggesting that real beauty lies in authenticity, empathy, and shared vulnerability. Through this lens, the novel does not simply reject traditional standards but proposes a more expansive and compassionate understanding of beauty that values human complexity over conformity.

How does the novel portray freedom as both a physical and emotional pursuit?

Freedom is one of the most pervasive themes in the novel, represented through symbolic acts and character choices. Ah Zhao's decision to buy pigeons only to release them reflects his yearning for liberation from the constraints of servitude and social hierarchy. Mei Lan, too, experiences a sense of entrapment—bound not only by her feet but also by societal expectations of marriage and obedience. Both characters embody the struggle between external limitations and internal desires.

Yet freedom is not restricted to physical escape. For Ah Zhao, art becomes a pathway to express truths that society would otherwise silence. For Mei Lan, poetry becomes an outlet for her suppressed voice, granting her an emotional independence that her circumstances deny. CC's journey also frames freedom as psychological—her dreams connect her to an alternate life, offering escape from her hospital bed and from personal hardship. In this way, freedom is shown to be multifaceted: a state of body, mind, and soul. The novel suggests that true liberation comes not only from breaking physical chains but also from embracing self-expression and personal truth.

What role does memory play in connecting the past and present?

Memory in the novel operates as a powerful bridge between worlds, blurring the boundaries between history and lived experience. CC's vivid dreams of Mei Lan's life are not mere fantasies but manifestations of cultural memory, carried across centuries through art and storytelling. The historic painting Along the River at Qing Ming becomes a vessel of memory—both personal and collective—through which CC reconnects with forgotten voices of the past.

By making memory porous and transferable, the novel challenges the idea that the past is sealed away. Instead, it shows how memory seeps into the present, shaping identities, choices, and relationships. For Mei Lan, memory is tied to longing and resistance, as she struggles to preserve her individuality against societal pressures. For CC, memory provides healing and insight, allowing her to find meaning in her own suffering by seeing it reflected in those who lived before her. Ultimately, memory in the novel is more than recollection; it is a living force that sustains cultural continuity, strengthens human connection, and ensures that personal struggles do not vanish into silence.