Son of the Revolution

At the beginning of the memoir, Liang’s father has an unwavering faith in the Communist Party. How does Father’s attitude toward the Party and the Cultural Revolution change as the memoir continues? Does his belief in the Party help or hurt Father and his family, and how does it do so?|

When the Cultural Revolution begins, Liang and his classmates eagerly engage in criticisms of their teachers. How does their behavior mirror the actions of Chinese citizens as a whole? Why does Father punish Liang for participating in these criticisms, even though Father supports Mao and the Party?

Liang says that as the Cultural Revolution grew more violent, people “began to realize” that the movement “would never make sense” (133). Explain Liang’s statement. What are some of the contradictory and irrational elements of the revolution described in the memoir? How did this movement affect the Chinese people?

Describe Liang’s experience living with the peasants. How do the claims to have created? How do the Revolution’s policies affect the peasants, and how does Liang react to the suffering he witnesses?

When Liang is accused of being part of a political conspiracy, he briefly considers suicide but instead resolves to “understand why my country had produced such tragedies” (207). Does Liang successfully come to understand China’s “tragedies” in the course of the memoir? What conclusions does he reach, and do any of his questions remain unanswered?

Describe Liang’s experience working in the Changsha Shale Oil Factory. What does Liang mean when he says he and the other workers “eat Socialism” (221)? What does Liang’s experience reveal about working in a communist society?

After discovering Peng Ming’s dark fate, Liang wants to “reaffirm some kind of basic kindness and concern towards people” (237). How does Liang accomplish this goal? Are his attempts to help others successful? How do his actions influence his own personal development?

When Liang is denied a place on the Provincial Sports Committee’s basketball team because of his family’s political background, he is furious that after so many years “the same terrifying shadows followed me” (218). How else have these political “shadows” affected Liang’s life? How might his life have been different if his parents were not criticized? Do you think there were any positive outcomes to Liang’s experience?