My Old Home by Lu Xun
Questions for consideration
q In
today’s westernized societies are our futures in any way pre-determined like in China in the early 1900s?
q Do
modern societies still have barriers that separate different social classes?
q Do we gloss-ever passed events in our lives and recall them beginning better than they actually were?
Note that "Time has a way of showing us what matters in Life."
Critical Thinking
Ø It
tells the story of one’s memories from youth to old age.
Ø The
confrontation of delusion is created when memories challenge reality.
Ø Memories had deceived the narrator blurring
truth, ignoring class boundaries, and forgetting the power that money possessed.
Ø His
memories had provided a means of protection, a way to detach him from the inequality in Chinese society.
Ø By
discovering the truth behind his memories, he enabled to see the realities of
his childhood in China.
Ø Undeniably, sometimes, our own memories can make us fool.
About the Author:
Ø Lu Xun (1881-1936) is the pen name of the writer born Zhou Shuren.
Ø He was born to a family with a strong Confucian background whose grandfather served as a high official in Beijing, and his father was also a scholar.
Ø Lu Xun has been considered China’s greatest writer of the 20th century.
Ø He was a short story writer, essayist, and translator who is commonly considered the ‘father of modern Chinese literature.’
Ø Known for his satirical observations of early 20th-century Chinese society, he is celebrated as a pioneer of modern vernacular Chinese literature and was one of the most important thinkers of his time.
Ø His popular novels and short story collections include A Madman’s Diary (1918), Kong Yiji (1918), Medicine (1919), Tomorrow (1920), An Incident (1920), A Storm in a Teacup (1920), and Hometown (1921).
Ø The story ‘My Old Home’ is taken from the short story collection Hometown.
Features of early 20th Chinese literature
· After the republican revolution of 1911 in China, authors turned away from the classical mode of composition.
· Translation of western books frequently appeared in China.
· Many writers advocated writing in Baihua vernacular.
· Novelists were inspired by European Writers.
Main Theme: ‘My Old Home’ is a story about Xun’s memories, from youth to middle age that depicts the conflict between memories and realities. The story describes how Xun feels while being away from home for many years. Upon arriving at his long-past home, his memories are forced to come to confront the realities. His prior conceptions and understandings of the world come into conflict with his realities.
Introduction: The autobiographical story of the struggle between memories and realities is titled My Old Home. The Chinese author Lu Xun based this tale on his recollections of his former residence and a close buddy. Relationships, companionship, childhood memories, class inequalities, and memories versus realities have all been key topics in this novel. The author's conflicted emotions before and after returning to his former home are depicted in this novel, and while away from it, his love for it has grown. But when he gets to his old house, his recollections are compelled to face the facts. His realities are at odds with his previous worldviews and understandings. Relationships, companionship, childhood memories, class inequalities, and memories versus realities have all been key topics in this novel. The narrator's childhood Chinese village served as the backdrop for this story.
Setting: The story took place during the late 19th century in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China.
Lu Xun: The
young master sold his old house and moved into a new one. He grows up becoming
friends with the servant Runtu and is enthralled by the tales that the latter
shares. He demands that his mother sell the old pieces of furniture from the
previous house so they can acquire new ones for the new one. Because he does
not wish to donate the furnishings to the needy, he is viewed as being miserly.
Runtu: A
quiet but upbeat servant who has previously worked for Lu Xun and has lived close
to the ocean. He returns to his hometown soon after and leads a difficult
existence there. He is wary because of his numerous children, the famine, and
his societal obligations. When the two of them get back together after 30 years
apart, he behaves more like an acquaintance than a friend to Lu Xun.
Mrs. Yang:
A neighbor who occupies the bean curd shop next to Lu Xun's former residence.
She is the underprivileged person who frequently goes to Lu Xun's
house and always departs with stuff that belongs to his family without paying
for it.
Hong’er: Little Lu Xun's nephew. Shuisheng and he became best buddies.
Shuisheng: The fifth of Runtu's sons. He rarely engages in social interaction
because he is so bashful. He eventually warms up to the Hung era, though, and
even extends an invitation for them to come to his house one day.
Plot:
Exposition: The story follows Lu Xun, a young master who visits back to his old home after 20 years and is greeted by his mother and nephew.
Rising
Action: He soon recalls the memories of his childhood, the time he shared
with his best friend and servant, Runtu.
Climax:
Lu Xun reconciles with his relatives including Mrs. Yang, a neighbor who
accuses him of being miserly. Unexpectedly, Runtu, who has now grown all wary
from his tough life at sea, pays a visit to Lu Xun’s home.
Falling
action: He had the feeling of being depressed as he saw the desolate and
scattered villages without any sign of life.
Let’s
explore what will become of the two when distance, time, and social barriers
restrict them from being friends again?
Conflict: My Old Home story depicts
the conflict between memories and realities. The story describes how Xun feels
while being away from home for many years. Upon arriving at his long-past home,
his memories are forced to come to confront the realities. This story also
tells us that things are not alike. They change with time. Our present conceptions
and understandings of the world may differ from future generations clashing
with the sweet-bitter realities.
Resolution: The narrator and his mother became nostalgic. He started thinking about human life, memories, and relationships. He realized the value of social responsibilities and the blurred relationships of humans. At the end of the story, the narrator is on the boat leaving his home along with his nephew, Hong'er, and his mother. As he was leaving, he realized that all of the memories and even his old home were left behind. He moved ahead toward his destination leaving his past in his memories.
QUESTION OF IDENTITY: The story is written to show the Chinese readers in this period the flaws of their society.
Assimilation:Ø My old home is a story about Xun’s memories from youth to middle age.
Ø
“My Old Home” depicts the conflict between the memories and realities of the author.
Ø
The story describes how Xun feels while being
away from home for many years
Ø
Upon returning home, his prior understandings
of the world come into conflict with his realities.
Ø The mind alters the past and praises it to exalt the person.
Themes: This story has presented the major themes of
q
Relationship
q
Confucian Ideal Friendship
q
Childhood memories
q
Class differences
q
Ancient Chinese Poverty
q
Social Position
q
Respect
q
Filial piety
q
Loyalty
q
Nostalgia
q
Discordance between Memories and Realities
The
author wants the reader to understand that a treadmill cannot exist because of
kindness to others. This narrative also shows us that, unlike adult friends,
childhood buddies can share a spiritual bond. One needs to understand how to
prioritize his comrade in a friendship. Xun emphasizes the value of loyalty as
well. Other themes include filial piety, respect, and social obstacles that
prevent people from various classes from making friends with one another.
The
story's most obvious relationship is that between friends. The ideal friendship
according to Confucianism is best exemplified by the relationship that
previously existed between Lu Xun and Runtu. Lu Xun was one of the very few
persons to whom Runtu could open up, and as a result, Lu Xun learned a great
deal about the outside world from Runtu. These two quickly grew close and were
like brothers to one another. They had a deeper connection than a
master-servant relationship. It was a relationship that was mutual and
reciprocal. But as time goes on, Runtu comes to the conclusion that their
friendship is over. He is aware that each person must act on their social status. He regards Lu Xun as a master as a result, showing him the
utmost respect and giving him the smallest presents. Here is an illustration of
a ruler-subject connection.
Social Strata: We are all born into particular social strata of society and cultural environments. We acquire influences in our education, healthcare, communities, and religion thanks to the antiquated idea of so-called class. This introduces some typical behavioral tendencies in us, whether consciously or unconsciously. Most people who are born into any particular class eventually pass away in the same state. The stereotype of the so-called class-oriented society of today does not readily accept moving up the social ladder.
Friendship: Friendship is a divine
relationship that is not based on blood ties or other affinities. Who among us
does not have friends? Friendship is regarded as the purest form of
relationship among all the ones we engage in. True friendship is the coming together
of two souls with the same outlook, which results in easy discussion and the
best of times. Regardless of the differences between you and your friends,
friends are people you may choose for yourself. A good friend in need can
change your life when you require self-realization, confidence-building, and
other things. Your life is fully embraced by a close buddy when you feel empty
inside.
Main Message: Present Realities and Social
Responsibilities make us away from our past and its related memories.
Analysis: Ø Youth-Social Barriers-Growing up and moving on
Ø Lu Xun's recollections from childhood to old age and the hostility/conflicts caused by the illusions he has when his memories clash with the truth.
Ø He remembers his youth, spent with his closest friend and servant Runtu.
Ø Runtu's surprise visit to Lu Xun's house being cautious from his hard life at sea.
Ø Bad effects of geography, time, and societal barriers prevent them from being friends.
Ø The old home represents growing up and moving on in life.
Ø Leaving the house made him realize that he was leaving behind his memories.
SUMMARY: The story of one's recollections, from boyhood to old age, and the confrontation of the delusions produced when memories question realities are told in Lu Xun's "My Old Home." Images of splendor, beauty, and respectability framed the protagonist Lu Xun's boyhood, tainting his recollections due to his long absence from home. His memories are compelled to accept the truth upon reaching his long-gone home, destroying his preconceived notions and worldviews in the process. "Ah! Surely this was not the old home I had remembered for the past twenty years?" the narrator declared as he stood in front of an old, broken-down home. Having been worn down by weather and inhabitants alike, the house's old, perceived splendor was invisible to the eye, only to be seen in that the mind. Rationalizing the discrepancy between memory and that standing before him, he tried to convince himself that his "home had always been like this, and although it had not improved, it was not so depressing as he imagined; it was only his mood that had changed, because he was coming back to the country without illusions". Despite his rationalization, it was clear that his memories had deceived him; having transformed his past home into a grand building it had never been, only to be torn down for re-evaluation along with his other assumed childhood memories that had been built into the magnificent illusions.
He learned that his old friend Runtu would be coming back to
town to meet him when he had time to recover from the trauma of seeing his old
house. The narrator hadn't seen his friend Runtu in over thirty years, and at
first, his memories weren't clear. An odd image suddenly flashed into his
thoughts after a little pause. The narrator's head was full of tales that had
matured over time. He was bursting with the vivid details of his friend Runtu's
idyllic boyhood by the sea. He wished he could be Runtu so badly. He wrote
stories that were sweet to a child's taste and romanticized in every aspect. The
narrator wanted to hear more about the seaside glamor and could not wait to
reintroduce himself to Runtu. The narrator was excited before his
long-awaited arrival, but he was flustered when he arrived. Runtu was standing
there, a mixture of happiness and despair seen on his face. His lips
moved, but he made no noise. Finally, assuming a polite demeanor, he distinctly
exclaimed, "Master!" Once more, the narrator's memories had misled
him. Hadn't he been friends with Runtu? Had they not interacted through play
and storytelling? The narrator found it difficult to comprehend class
distinction when they were young. Because of his innocent youth, he remembered
that his relationship with Runtu had been one of friendship. This recollection
expanded till it attained utopian levels. He had thought their friendship had
been ideal.
Childhood for the narrator was destroyed. The appearance of
his home was deceptive. Runtu, who led a luxurious life by the sea, had not
even been on a par with him. The narrator's memories had misled him by
obscuring the facts, disregarding social distinctions, and forgetting the
influence that money held. The narrator couldn't understand how such a chasm
could appear between himself and Runtu, memories, and truth. It became clear
how easily one's thoughts, memories, and past may change. One cannot rely on
their memories of the past. The mind alters and exalts the past to exalt the person. The narrator was able to distance himself from the wrongs
associated with class disparities by viewing himself as Runtu's equal. His
having to confront Runtu and the reality entails his having to confront China's
poverty. He had been able to defend himself from the injustices that Chinese
society produced because of his recollections. He was only able to understand
the reality of China by facing his memories and learning the truth hidden
within.
q
This story shows the poor economic condition
of people who were working in the agricultural field in ancient times in China.
They faced hard times filling their family’s stomachs.
q
This story tells us about the different
social boundaries which did not allow people to build a mutual relationship.
People of one class were not allowed to build any relations with other lower
classes. This shows the narrow-mindedness of the ancient Chinese people.
q
Unpredictability in the mind of the
storyteller alters the past and praises it to exalt the person. Running
into his recollections and his history in an unexpected manner, a character who
declares himself to be from a lower socioeconomic level before his friend
demonstrates classicism. His recollections had served as a shield, allowing him
to separate himself from the injustices that Chinese society imposed on him. He
could only see the truth about China after facing his memories and finding the reality hidden underneath
them.
q
In the end, the narrator and his family
departed Runtu with a few household items before returning to their new home in
town.
After
reading the story, we come to the conclusion that;
q
This story shows the poor economic condition
of people who were working in the agricultural field in ancient times in China.
They faced hard times filling their family’s stomachs.
q
This story tells us about the different
social boundaries which did not allow people to build a mutual relationship.
People of one class were not allowed to build any relations with other lower
classes. This shows the narrow-mindedness of the ancient Chinese people.
q
Unpredictability in the mind of the
storyteller alters the past and praises it to exalt the person. Running
into his recollections and his history in an unexpected manner, a character who
declares himself to be from a lower socioeconomic level before his friend
demonstrates classicism. His recollections had served as a shield, allowing him
to separate himself from the injustices that Chinese society imposed on him. He
could only see the truth about China after finding his memories and finding the reality hidden underneath
them.
q
In the end, the narrator and his family
departed Runtu with a few household items before returning to their new home in
town.