Summary of Life and Death in Shanghai Written by Nien Cheng - Book Report/Review Example

 Review: Life And Death In Shanghai The book Life & Death In Shanghai is written by America-based Chinese writer, Nien Cheng. In this book she showed her experiences regarding political environment of China, in days when she was a China national. She told the readers the effects Communism placed on the behaviors of people, their life styles and ideology. Being a victim of communism, she guides us into the lives of pre-Communism upper class, or defendants of Capitalism. This book is a true representation of many lives affected by Cultural Revolution of China. Theme: It is a tribute to those who suffered while protecting their dignity and ideology. Nien Cheng presents herself as a symbol of sacrifices given by Capitalist China. She showed how people who refused to surrender their believes to those of Mao’s were punished. She praised and made us praise the courage of those who did not bow to undue pressure put imposed by the ruling party. Purpose of Writing The Memoir: In this memoir the author tries to show an air of terror and insecurity that was then surrounding China. This is written to show how life within Communist China of Mao’s reign was. How Maoists showed their power and their complexes of inferiority by terrorizing those to whom they were once inferior. She showed the unrest and instability which was named Cultural Revolution. Effects of revolution were expressed which made revolution (as opposed to evolution) the worst choice. The novel protests against tyranny and imposition of ideas by Communist party, effectively. It highlights the problems which arise because of preferring revolution as opposed to evolution. It disapproves decisions taken based upon the sole intention of destruction, based upon Mao’s theory “The old culture must be destroyed to make way for the new Socialist Culture.” But pointing out such behaviors she actually tells the backwardness in Communists. Mao’s quote ''We must learn swimming from swimming'' shows a serious tragedy Revolution had, lack of measured judgment. The believe that people minds and loyalties can be changed by force, could be nothing more than serious joke to human nature. And punishing an innocent for the reason that he or she was a relative of apparently guilty person is another bitter slap on the face of humanity. This all showed lack of reasonableness in Communist party. History: This novel is based on Cultural Revolution which which speed from 1966 and remained in power till Mao’s death in 1976. This revolution was started taking influence from Russian Revolution, which resulted in the emergence of Communist Russia in 1917. As the time progressed further, world came to know flaws that were hidden behind attractive promises of Communism. At the time the book is narrated Communism in Russia was declining and Bolshevik’s successors were unable to provide appropriate leadership to the country. Russian economy was deteriorating. And it was apparent from the situation that Communism was major cause of all these disruptions. This situation raised questions about whether it would be reasonable to experiment these failing policies and ideology in other societies. Considering Russian political distress, Mao put considerable efforts in making his policies effective. Communist party got benefited from Chinese economic conditions in which working class was suppress and helpless against the upper class and multinational companies dominating the Chinese economy. The communist party came into power by claiming equal distribution of wealth. They succeeded to some extent in fulfilling their promises. But Mao’s idea of revolution and his backing over Red Guards became the major causes of unrest within the residents of China. Moreover it created an air of insecurity for foreigners or foreign returned Chinese. Culture: Red Guards had harassing appearances. They were given undue power to loot and mentally torture Chinese who appear Capitalists. They destroy precious artifact in the name of “making path for new culture”. Nien Cheng tailored the story around herself, a proponent of Capitalist ideology. Her life during Cultural Revolution is a true reflection of lives of thousands of Capitalists (or imperialist, as they called it) Chinese who got captive in the middle of revolution stricken society of China and who borne hardships, discrimination, arrests and even deaths. Red Guards tortured not only those Chinese who were against Communism, they also tortured them who, from their appearance, personality and lifestyle, looked proponent of Capitalism. They even did not bother to harass those people who were related to these Capitalists-looking activists. Meiping was one of such examples. Born and brought up in Communist China, she was a perfect Socialist. Yet she became a victim of Red Guards because of her blood-relationship with a marked activist, which was her only crime (by birth) against Communist China. Maoists were not united even within their own networks. They doubted at their own companions and played tricks and plotted intrigues to prove themselves loyal, thus capable of attaining power, and raised disputes regarding better understanding of Mao’s teachings. Even every group within the Red Guards had disputes among members. They didn’t respect even their fellows’ thoughts. Education system was deplorable Mao’s teachings about education ''We must learn swimming from swimming'' led youth to experiment with technologies even in the serious fields of medical science. Most of experienced professional were made accused of having activist ideology, so they were not allowed to use or transfer their skills to new generations. Students were made involved in revolutionary activities rather than in their studies. And so human base for Future China was under serious threat. From the memoir it is apparent that China at that time was under a tyranny. All the policies, decisions and laws were in Mao’s hand and his fellows’. The country was struck in between anarchy and political distress. Youth was not guided the right way to express their feelings regarding their homeland. They were brainwashed so they showed disparate behaviors, taught to them by their Great Leader Chairman Mao, like disgracing citizens, even teacher, harassing and humiliating them. Communists disapproved every symbol of Capitalist Culture. They tried to turn around all of the social values on which life is based. They shut down cultural organizations to stop them to reflect past culture. From all these points we can conclude that the Cultural Revolution had great effects on the life of ordinary Chinese. This could be the result of lengthy suppression of working class’ rights, the suppression which was both economic and political, during past decades, even centuries. Once they came into power they tried to set all the situation, all the Governmental policies in their favor, causing another social imbalance. This imbalance is, in my opinion, called Cultural Revolution. Author’s Experience: The book Life and Death in Shanghai is an autobiography telling the hardships that were borne by the author in Communist China. Times were hard for bourgeoisie class for a long time but for Nien Cheng it started in 1966. She her colleagues and friends being harassed by Red Guards or being humiliated in ‘struggle’ meetings. She saw roads and pavements serving as theatres showing torturous scenes created by Red Guards against so called activists. They harassed pedestrians on the basis of their dressing and appearance. They not only disgraced such chosen victims but also tortured them physically. One day such a scene was created within the author’s house. Those schoolboys (Red Guards) along with their teachers came and looted her house. They even humiliated and destroyed her precious porcelain collection. Then another day she herself was made target of struggle meeting. There she was accuse of being involved in intrigues against The Great Leader and for harming China, while acting as foreign agent. She was disgraced for not accepting fictitious list of her wrongdoings. This disgrace continued and she was punished with six and half years of solitary imprisonment. Moreover, she was not presented with any opportunity to prove her innocence. She was mentally and physically tortured to give false confession. After this period of imprisonment she was allowed to live a social (but restricted) life. Although she was out of Detention House, yet she was not free of charge that was placed on her in early years of Revolution. This was a false freedom. Worst was the knowledge she gained after coming out of prison, about her daughter’s death-a murder in the hands of Red Guards. She tried to seek justice, but in vain. Then she came to know that Communists’ prejudice had no limits. Even after the end of her physical imprisonment she was made to feel that she was being spied. People around her humiliated her. On several occasions she was interrogated on her ideas and sympathies with different social cultures. Her peers consistently pointed out that she was under threat. She was dependant on Authorities for as simple decisions as dressings and meals. This all made her re-plan her future. She felt that she could no longer bear problems she was bearing only for being a member of Communist society. These factors together make her grab the first ever opportunity she could find to flee from her distress stricken homeland. China Today: Economy. Today we know that China is third biggest economy in the world after USA and Japan. It had grown significantly after the economic reforms that started in 1978. As a consequence of economic growth Chinese living standards have improved remarkably. Chinese Government undertook a slow and steady process of reforms rather than tried turning around their economy with a single decision. It has been highly developed its infrastructure, so as to facilitate rapid economic growth. China has acquired some highly sophisticated production facilities through trade and also has built a number of advanced engineering plants capable of manufacturing an increasing range of sophisticated equipment. Although it is the major exporter in world economy yet it has to work more in order to be the best technology producer in the world. Foreign policies. People’s Republic of China is UN member since 1971. Although has UN membership yet its participation in the Organization is not remarkable. It only participate when its own national stakes are in question. Now-a-days, China is appearing more liberal than it was in mid 1960s. The foreign policies of China are lenient. Now they are accepting and encouraging foreign relations. This is also apparent from their high export growth and heavy dependence on export. China is one of the major proponents of Free Trade Area. The People's Republic of China maintains diplomatic relations with most major countries in the world. China is befriended with most of Asian countries. It positively works towards the unison of Asian countries for development of trade and infrastructure. China's foreign policy is driven by the concept of "harmony without uniformity" that is they do not discriminate in their relations with different countries on the basis of their believes and ideology. Human rights. In China human rights are not well considered. There are informal (and/or illegal) restrictions on freedom of speech. The movement of people from one part of China to another is discouraged. Communism was greatly in opposition to religious activities of any kind. Now with the liberalization of China on its way, Chinese government is now giving religious freedom. Yet this freedom is restricted and closes doors for economic growth and social welfare. With the ethnic minorities residing in China, China government shows a compensating behavior. In some cases rights of Han Chinese (majority ethnic class of China) are forfeited in favor of those of minorities. Politics. China was under martial law for four decades starting from 1948 and remaining influential till 1987. After this period when Martial law lifted country’s political state has moved significantly towards a democratic political system. Policies regarding media are eased. Yet their are some restriction placed on mass communication, but they are given more freedom than before. Formation of political parties is now permitted. Conclusion: Today China is a lot better in economic and political term, than it was in the days of Cultural Revolution. People’s living standard has elevated significantly. This all is made possible after economic reforms put in place in 1980s. Moreover, the lenient policy now shown by government is also a factor in welfare in China. In 1960s China discouraged foreign investments by imposing increased legal compliance costs and taxes. Now-a-days it is offering subsidies to attract foreign investments. And its liberal (more liberal than 1960s, at least) is helping it in achieving the objective. Human rights are yet being violated but now at least there is acknowledgment of there rights legally. It can be hoped that Chinese have only paces to go for China to be a complete peaceful and perfectly liberal society. China foreign policy is also eased to accept different nations as its allies. This has positively enhanced image of China as a responsible nation in the eyes of international viewers. The image of China across the boarders can be understood from the setting of 2008 Summer Olympics in China. In short, China conditions has improved significantly after easing policies it showed during Communists’ reign. Moving towards Mixed-economy and preferring evolution as a mean of improvement became positive omen for China Read More