–The story’s narrator is revisiting a place he once lived. Explain the significance that this “revisiting” has in relation to the themes of the story.
–What is the connection between our narrator and Weifu? Why do you think so much of the story is spent on Weifu’s life, while the narrator shares very little about his own life experiences?
–Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
–Weifu recalls when he and the narrator used to pull the beards off religious statues in the Temple when they were younger. What is the significance of this memory?
–Describe an instance of filial piety in the story. What is its significance?
–What aspects of this short story seem to you to be particularly modernist?
An instance of filial piety in the story is when Weifu came down to the South as per his mother’s wishes to move his little brother’s grave. Despite him having no money, he still bought his little brother a new coffin and bedding and moved him next to his father’s grave in order to set his mother’s mind at rest. This is significant because it shows how this idea of filial piety was strong enough to push Weifu to do something that he described as futile. Even though he believed that moving his little brother’s grave was not going to do anything or maybe even pointless, Weifu still did it for his mother. Throughout the story, Weifu consistently describes what he does as futile, and yet, he does them anyways out of his filial duty. Whether it be moving the grave or bringing back artificial flowers because his mother asked him to, we can see how in both instances, the importance of filial piety to Weifu was the motivating force behind his actions. In a way, Weifu’s respect for his mother and his duty as a son is the one thing in his life that he’s sure about at a time where he’s at a loss of what to do with his life.
Right. I’m glad you mentioned his use of the word “futile”!
–Weifu recalls when he and the narrator used to pull the beards off religious statues in the Temple when they were younger. What is the significance of this memory?
This memory shows us when Weifu and the narrative was young, how different they were. Weifu was influenced to make a change and rebel from traditional values and ways of practicing Confucianism. On the other hand, when Weifu becomes older he conforms to how life is and cares very little of questioning of his brothers disappearing corpse. This shows he is allowing to let things slide as he sees it as futile in attempting to do anything else with it. At the end of the story Weifu asks the narrator what he is teaching and which is he teaches the little girls on traditional women etiquette and “the Confucian classics as before”, Weifu comments “I could really never guessed that you would be teaching such books.” The narrative replies “I don’t even teach mathematics; not that I wouldn’t teach it, but they don’t want it taught.” The narrative too stopped trying to teach and influence change for modernism and conformed in teaching the old traditional values like Confucianism.
Good. Yes, both the narrator and Weifu were idealistic and rebellious when they were younger.
–The story’s narrator is revisiting a place he once lived. Explain the significance that this “revisiting” has in relation to the themes of the story.
There is a recurring theme in the story that relates to the idea of revisiting. Of course, the narrator himself is revisiting his old town and recalls that although he had once lived there, it seemed as if everything had changed and he felt like a stranger. Similarly, his old friend Weifu retells a story of how he had to dig up his brother’s grave and rebury him. Here, once again there is a theme of revisiting where Weifu goes back to his brother’s grave, and additionally, just like the town changed to the narrator, his brother’s body had changed to almost nothing because of decomposition. this shows a parallel and emphasizes the theme of revisiting something that has changed drastically. Lastly, when Weifu continues to another story, he tells the tale of how he came back with flowers for a woman of the town, and once again the result was different because he was told that she had died a while back.Tthis theme reflects the way we isolate ourselves from our past and when we revisit it, it is often in a distorted or different manner than what we had originally recalled.
I like the idea that this theme of revisiting extends even to the anecdote about the grave!
This “revisiting” of a place where the narrator once had lived communicates to the audience that change brings unfamiliarity. At the beginning of the story, he heads to his hometown where he feels like a stranger. For example, when he goes to visit his old school, he sees the name and gate has changed and couldn’t find any of his old colleagues. When the narrator meets Weifu in the wineshop, he notices the changes in Weifu. Weifu became smug due to his mother’s anguish over her dead son. This is contrasted to the days where Weifu and the narrator were once playful, troublesome children with an imagination for their future. The contrast between a lively and a smug mood can be seen in the setting and Weifu. The significance behind the revisiting is highlighted by the analogy of the bees. He states, “When I was young, I saw the way bees or flies stopped in one place. If they were frightened they would fly off, but after flying in a small circle they would come back again to stop in the same place; and I thought this really very foolish, as well as pathetic. But I didn’t think that I would fly back myself, after only flying in a small circle. And I didn’t think you would come back either. Couldn’t you have flown a little further?”. This revisiting served as a purpose to find security and comfort in the past. At times, when their life is
difficult, they decided to revisit their past when times we much simpler and easier as means of coping up with their current struggles.
Interesting. I agree with you that the image of the bees relates to the narrator and to Weifu – who seem to have come “full circle”; yet I’m not sure that our narrator finds it reassuring to revisit this town where he once lived.
The connection between the narrator and Weifu is that they were young teachers and revolutionaries 10 years ago. Throughout the article, the narrator does not explain his story but listens to Weifu’s story. He was a stranger to people that he did not know when he was at the bar. Also, he wants the audience to know how futile his stories were. For example, Weifu explained that his 3-year-old son was dead, and they did not bury him in a casket. The reason he was doing this was to please his mother. In addition, Weifu talks about how gave artificial flowers to a young woman he had met until she died. The difference between artificial flowers and real flowers is that real flowers are beautiful while artificial flowers are not real but imitations. The narrator’s purpose in telling these stories is to show how useless Weifu was when he did all of this to please his mother.
So is pleasing his mother a worthy goal – or is it a waste of time?
–Weifu recalls when he and the narrator used to pull the beards off religious statues in the Temple when they were younger. What is the significance of this memory?
What is significance of Weifu recalling the time he and the narrator used to pull the beards off religious statues in the temple when they were younger is what we discussed in class which is nostalgia, reasoning why they have done these actions and how they changed. For example, Weifu talks about how he see’s things differently now, he states how he is not religious, which connects to why he pulled off the beards off the religious statues. It also brings back memories for both Weifu and the narrator of that particular memory. We see them reminiscing of this particular event but Weifu explains how he has changed and would not do these actions again. He does not fully accepts religion in his life, but is willing to partake in religion. For example, we see this when he buries the casket for his mother even though he believes it is a useless action.
Right – this last sentence is important – he’s willing to participate in the ritual of the burial without actually believing in it.
–Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
The significance of this is that it is type of filial piety. Weifu reburying his little brother is something his mother requested. He didn’t want to do this since his brother’s body was already decomposed, but he respected his mother, so he did it anyway. Since he did something for the sole reason to satisfy his mother, he accomplished filial piety. Since filial piety is very common in Confucianism in China, it shows that Weifu respects this ideology.
An instance of filial piety in the story is when Wei Fu reburies a coffin. Wei Fu probably didn’t want to deal with the hassle of reburying the coffin of a brother he barely knew; however, Wei Fu still did it to please his mother because it was his mother’s request to rebury the body somewhere else, so it doesn’t drown. It is his duty to respect his mother’s wishes as her son. Even after finding nothing in the coffin, he could’ve told his mother the truth, but deep down, he probably knew he couldn’t disobey or disappoint his mother. He could’ve just lied and gotten rid of the new coffin, but instead, he buried the new coffin next to his father’s grave. The extra step of reburying makes him feel less guilty because at least he did something that would satisfy his mother’s wishes. It is significant because it shows how filial piety is very strong and is engraved deep down in Wei Fu’s consciousness. The idea of respecting his mother is always in the back of his mind, which influences his actions towards her.
Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
The reburying of Weifu’s little brother was the main reason why he came back to Taiyuan. This was also one of the futile things Weifu claimed he has done. After we learned more about his story of reburying his brother, it is true that this work he has done was futile; for that, he reburied an empty coffin of his brother’s “body” next to his father’s grave. He gave the readers a reason for putting peace in his mother’s mind. However, this was proof of filial piety, an idea that Weifu’s younger self rejects to follow and believe. It’s not like he’s believing in Confucianism, but he’s doing things that represent ideas of Confucianism. He just wants an easier life and gets away from problems as much as possible by satisfying his mother’s desires.
Right – I think you have described Weifu’s actions nicely. It’s easier to just do what his mother has asked him to do.
–Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
The significance of the story about the rebutting Weifu’s little brother is to show how he has changed within the ten years that has passed. Even though he did go back to his town to rebury his brother, he also went back because he wanted to reminisce the good memories he had and seemed disappointed by how everything and everyone had changed. Even though his brother’s body was no longer in the coffin, he buried him next to their father so his mother could be at peace. With this he could be a little content.
–What aspects of this short story seem to you to be particularly modernist?
Modernism is defined as “a break with the past and the concurrent search for new forms of expression.” I believe this story has several aspects that were very modernist, beginning with the slight critique that Weifu seems to have towards filial piety. He tells the narrator that he went and reburied his brother, even thought it seemed pointless. He also talks about bringing back the artificial flowers like his mother asked and the girl he was supposed to give them to died. Both of these things were described as “futile” and were essentially pointless, and a waste of time and effort that could’ve been spent doing other things. These are also aspects of modernism, as the author wants the reader to understand that just because traditionally we are told to do things, we can’t do it just because it has always been that way, we should reject these old aspects and do things in a new way that actually make sense for us.