The Novel Lili by Anna Wang

1350 Words3 Pages

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” This is a strong belief Annie Wang incorporates into her novel, Lili. The main character, Lili, struggles to find what to do with herself amidst the communist oppression of China. Many of the experiences that Lili, along with other characters, face throughout the novel are directly related to Wang’s own life experiences. Three of the important values Wang shares with characters in her book are curiosity, independence and rebelliousness.
Curiosity is a moving trait Wang bestows on the love interest of Lili in the novel, Roy Harper. Roy is a wealthy America journalist who travels to China, to learn and report on the Eastern Culture, and meets Lili on the Mongolian cultural tour they both join. Being a journalist, he is naturally inquisitive and is always trying to find interesting stories to report on. Lili intrigues him because of her non-conformist views on China, which is why he becomes infatuated with her. When they visit Lili’s grandmother, because Roy wants to inquire about a Buddhist phrase, Lili inquires as to why he needs to learn the truth about everything. Roy replies, “Because I want to learn, and also because I’m uncomfortable with ambiguity. Aren’t you troubled by that kind of vagueness?” (Wang, Lili 133). Though Lili doesn’t see it, Roy is troubled by what he does not understand, and his curiosity incessantly pushes him to seek out answers. Roy even pursues his curiosity about Buddhism by going to live in a monastery for two months to further understand their culture. Later on, Roy says to Lili, “It’s time to overthrow the avant-garde. I need to meet the Chines...

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...ate her experiences and values into the novel while writing it, exemplifying the characteristics of curiosity, independence and rebelliousness that she feels are important in the conformist society of China. Only through curiosity can people learn of the political oppression so craftily utilized by the government. The Chinese must show independence to stand out from the average citizen “being brainwashed” (Wang, Personal Interview) by nationalistic pride. These individuals must be rebellious, in order to join the revolution desperately needed to break through the masquerade the Chinese dictatorship hides behind; a revolution to fight for freedom and democracy. To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson`s ideals, being yourself means not conforming to a world filled with dictators, oppression and lies. These are the people who have achieved the greatest accomplishment.

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