Title Question: How was your understanding of the cultural and contextual considerations of

“Rickshaw Boy” developed through the interactive oral?

In my encounter of the novel Rickshaw Boy, I was given glimpse of Chinese Society at the

time. It was portrayed to be heavily governed by Confucianism, along with Taoism which have

been ingrained to Chinese society since its early days. Through the setting and progression of

the novel, China was seen to face many changes which gave rise to new beliefs such as newly

dominant social realism. During the interactive oral, my understanding for the cultural and

contextual of the novel have been developed, as we discussed the prevalent themes, issues

and beliefs.

In the novel, Xiangzi is seen to have met an unfortunate fate, as a series of tragedies occur to

him. Looking deeper into this, his suffering stems his failure to conform to chinese society and

its tradition, The source of Xiangzi’s suffering stems from his inability to conform to society. In

the novel, he is unable to abide by the norms of Confucianism. Confucianism promotes

collectivism, yet Xiangzi embodied individualism. This can be seen in the early chapter where

Xiangzi only cared for his dream of owning a rickshaw, and not of anyone else as he had neither

family or friends. In a society which treats culture with great significance, Xiangzi is unable to

abide to all this. Chinese society then rejects Xiangzi, who as the novel progresses suffers

because of his inability to conform to chinese society.

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 Xiangzi lives in the city of Beiping, which in reality is merely representation of a predator

eat prey world. Lao She labels multiple characters, with animal names to deliver the message of

an sick unjust society. The use of animal names, is actually used to create the food chain that

existed in Chinese society was symbolized the social hierarchy that existed at the time. Xiangzi

was given a lowly animal, being called Camel Xiangzi. This label was to belittle him as a beast

of burden and to place him at bottom of society. On the contrary other characters such as

Huniu, was labeled with Tiger; a predator that devour the Camel or the lower class. The use of

animal labels was to depict the difference of power between the lower and upper class; Showing

the unjust that existed in society. While this novel is relatively old, the issues it tackles are still

seen in society, even in my own country where upper class dominate the lower class.

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