The Jade Peony Essay Questions

What is the effect of having the novel divided into 3 distinct sections, each with a different narrator?

Each of the novel's 3 sections is narrated by a different sibling from the same family: first Jook-Liang, then Jung-Sum, and finally Sek-Lung. Utilizing 3 different narrators allows Choy to explore the novel's central themes (including family, belonging, and memory) from a different perspective, since each of the children has a different personality, and also experiences different challenges and struggles. For example, Jook-Liang's section allows Choy to explore questions specific to a young girl's experience of growing up Chinese Canadian, while Jung-Sum's section allows the novel to engage with the intersection of someone grappling with both their racial and sexual identity. If Choy had told the novel only from the point of view of one character, these perspectives would have been more limited. In a sense, the siblings who come from the same family but who are also distinct individuals function as a metaphor for the Chinese Canadian community: a group that has shared experiences and connections, but also is composed of individuals who can be very different from one another.

To what extent can The Jade Peony be considered a historical novel?

The Jade Peony is set in the 1930s and 1940s, and makes reference to specific historical events that took place during this time. For example, the novel describes the events of the attack on Pearl Harbor (December 1941). It also references previous historical events such as the Chinese Immigration Act and the head tax, showing how they impacted and shaped the experiences of Chinese Canadians. Specific details such as the movies that Jook-Liang goes to see, and the boxers who inspire Jung-Sum, are also historically accurate to the time period in which the novel is set. While the novel can be considered historical fiction, it has an interesting layer in that it features retrospective narration by characters recalling their experiences as children. The narrative is sometimes fragmentary and dream-like, reflecting the way that memories function. Choy's novel fuses both geo-political history, and the personal history of individuals to show that the two are never fully separate.

What qualities or characteristics are valued within the family? What makes someone a "good" child?

The children featured in Choy's novel receive mixed messages about what characteristics are valued by different family members, and this is part of the reason why they are sometimes confused and ambivalent about their identities. Grandmother emphasizes piety, tradition, and respect for old ways; she also has strongly gendered ideas that she transmits to Jook-Liang. Father, on the other hand, wants to see his children integrate into Canadian society and what he sees as its more "modern" values, but he does not want them to lose or abandon their Chinese heritage. Father also values academic achievement because he sees this success as something that will set his children up for better lives. The children often see their eldest brother held out as a marker of success, but he also has a lot of privilege due to his status as the first son. In their own ways, each of the siblings struggles with a longing to be good and align with the values of their family, but also feels pulled to explore their own identity and desires.

Why do Jook-Liang and Wong Suk form such a close friendship?

At first, it seems unlikely that Jook-Liang would form a close bond. Jook-Liang is only 6 years old when they first meet, and Wong Suk is an elderly man who has never married or had children or grandchildren. Wong Suk also has an unusual appearance that many people find unsettling; at first everyone assumes that the children will be frightened by him. However, the two of them bond immediately, and maintain a close friendship for 3 years before Wong Suk returns to China. Jook-Liang is an imaginative child who has vivid daydreams and a love of stories and film. She is not frightened by Wong Suk because within the world of her imagination, he is not ugly or frightening, but rather mythical and inspiring. In turn, Wong Suk is moved by the affection and trust that Jook-Liang displays, and becomes very tender with the child. Jook-Liang loves that Wong Suk gives her attention and treats her like she is special, because she often feels somewhat neglected by the other adults in her life.

Why is the Vancouver Chinese community so close-knit? What advantages and disadvantages does this create for the children?

Choy depicts a fairly insular and close-knit immigrant community. Each of the three children socializes primarily with members of this Chinese community, and in some cases, they spend most of their time with a few specific family members or family friends. The community is fairly insular because Chinese immigrants were not widely welcomed into white Canadian society, and were ostracized as alien and different. Members of the Chinese community are also shown to be invested in preserving their cultural heritage and traditions, and maintaining a distinctive community allows them to do so. This close-knit and distinctive community creates a safe and sheltered atmosphere for the children to grow up, and means that they stay connected to their heritage. However, it also leads them to feel more isolated from non-Chinese society, and to feel more confused about what their future will look like.