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Red Scarf Girl
The Out-of-Print Red Scarf Girl bookcover
Author	Ji-Li Jiang
Cover artist	Hilary Zarycky (Cover Design)
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Memoir
Publisher	HarperTrophy
Publication date	1998
Media type	print (hardback & paperback)
Pages	272 pp
ISBN	9780064462082

Red Scarf Girl is a memoir written by Ji-li Jiang about her experiences during the Cultural Revolution of China. The book's foreword is written by David Henry Hwang.

The book starts while Ji-li is a 12 year old still living in Shanghai, China. Ji-Li is at the top of her class, the da-dui-zhang, or Student Council President, of her school. However, her father prevents her from auditioning for the Central Liberation Army Arts Academy due to her class status. Her family is considered a Black Family, because her grandfather was a landlord. Many people accuse Ji-Li of her family's old ways. Ji-Li must deal with the difficult choice between her future or her family. This book describes her experiences with the Cultural Revolution, including being betrayed by her closest friends, helping to destroy the Four Olds, and being forced by the government to write bad things about her teachers.

Contents 1 Historical Background 2 Characters 2.1 Ji-li's Family 2.2 Ji-li's Teachers and Classmates 2.3 Other Characters 3 Chapter Summaries 4 Themes

[edit] Historical Background

The Cultural Revolution in the People’s Republic of China was a time of national, social, and political struggle between the classes. The Cultural Revolution was founded by Mao Ze-Dong on May 16, 1966. He said that liberal capitalist elements were dominating the party and insisted that they needed to be removed by remolding the thoughts and actions of the Chinese youth, who formed Commmunist "Red Guard" groups around the country. Mao believed that if he made the youth of China believe in Communism, he could control the next generation, and the future of China. The Red Guards were high school and college students that were given power. They enforced the campaign to eliminate the things Mao considered "Four Olds", or Anti-Communist, conducted searches, and punished people that had seemingly capitalist attire.

[edit] Characters

Jiang Ji-li - was born on the Chinese New Year, and her name means ‘lucky and beautiful’. She is very smart and used to be the da-dui-zhang (the Chinese equivalent of the head of the student council, the most powerful student in the school). Despite her academic achievements, she is held back by her class status. In Communist China, all landlords, rich peasants, counterrevolutionaries (somewhat of a rebel, a person who fights against the Communist Party), criminals and rightists were considered black (the opposite of red, the color of Communism). Ji-Li very much wanted to become a Red Successor. A Red Successor is a student who would become a Red Guard in the future. (Red Guards were high school or college students that enforced laws and helped destroy the Four Olds) (for more information see book summary—Destroying the Four Olds). But because her grandfather was a landlord and her father is said to be a rightist (someone who disagrees with, or opposes the Communist Party), people start to humiliate her at school and they will not let her become what she wants to be- a Red Successor and a Liberation Army Dancer. She loves her family so much that when she tries to change her name so the landlord she had as a grandfather would not be associated with her, she is unable to go through with it.

[edit] Ji-li's Family

Dad - Ji-li’s father is an actor who has been named a landlord, and also named a rightist. Because he was accused of listening to foreign radio (which he didn't do) he wouldn't confess to doing it and is being held in confinement. He is being forced to do hard labor and possibly be tortured without being allowed to see his family. Dad is one of the reasons for Ji-li's troubles in school, and in life. His being a rightist has put her into situations where she can't do want she wants to.

Mom - Ji-li's mother is also the mom of 3 children. She gets very stressed out about the Cultural Revolution. She likes helping Ji-li with things. She is supportive of what Ji-li wants and she tries to care and nurture her. She is very emotional and worried and really wants the best for her children. For example, she sends Ji-li, Ji-yong, and Ji-yun to the park with grandma, because she doesn't want the kids to be worried about the Red Guards. She has a disease called menieres syndrome. This makes her face turn yellow and make her feel faint, and potentially pass out

Grandma - Ji-li's grandma was married to a land lord who is considered a fourold. (a fourold is an idea or something that interferes with modern society.) A landlord is a fourold because they owned a lot of land and that made them have more power than regular family's and Chairman Mao did not like that people were unequal that is why it was a fourold. Although she did not marry him for the money she married him because she loved him, their whole family was blamed for this so they are considered a black family. Ji-li's grandma cares for Ji-li a lot. Grandma is very responsible because when they were at the park, she didn’t slip up and let the children into the house if the broom was not there. Because she is a landlord’s wife she gets very bad punishments for it such as being hit by the red guards and the fact that she has to sweep the alley twice a day, and does it even though she doesn’t want to.

Ji-yun - is Ji-li's 9 year-old, sensitive sister who encounters many troubles getting along with her fellow kids in her class. In school some people have found out about her bad background. One of the kids threw her back pack out the window and was calling her names. As you can see that her bad background of their family was affecting them.

Ji-yong - Ji-li's little brother. He is mischievous and he would rather play around in the alley then focus on his studies. He is a lot like Ji-yun, but a little clumsier.

Song Po-po – a caring, hard working, nice person. Song Po-po is the Jiangs maid who lives with them.She cooks and cleans for the Jiangs and is like part of the family to them. She used to be the housekeeper; unfortunately, they dismissed her because having a housekeeper is believed to be exploiting workers which stands for Capitalism.

[edit] Ji-li's Teachers and Classmates

Bai Shan - a classmate of Ji-li in her Junior High. He is a little bit shy, and a communist. He tries to be helpful to Ji-li because he has a little crush on her.

Teacher Gu - Teacher Gu is Ji-li’s and the rest of her classmates’ teacher.

Du Hai - Red Successor, classmate of Ji Li, student of Teacher Gu, bully (and the rest of the Red Successors) to Ji Li, because of her status. Du Hai is a boy that earned the spot as Red Successor in his class, and is a classmate of Ji Li, and a student of Teacher Gu. He is a bully of Ji-li and An Yi because of Ji-li’s status.

An Yi - Ji-Li’s best friend, a classmate of Ji Li, and a student of Teacher Gu. An Yi’s grandma committed suicide by jumping out the window.

Ying Lan-Lan - Red Successor, classmate of Ji Li, student of Teacher Gu, and bully (like the rest of the Red Successors) to Ji Li, because of her status. She was not the smartest girl in the school, but blamed her bad luck on the teachers. Gladually wanted to become a Red Succesor.

Yan Fan - friend of Du Hai, and also is a bully of Ji Li and An Yi. Yan Fan argued with Ji Li and An Yi about Four Olds. Yan Fan is a classmate of Ji Li, and a student of Teacher Gu.

Chang Hong - a friend and classmate of Ji-li in Xin-Zha Junior High. She is a leader and she supports the communist party enthusiastically. She is also very helpful and supportive to Ji-li. She is considerate of her situation. She is also very determined and indignant.

[edit] Other Characters

Chairman Mao - The leader of the Communist Party in southern China where Ji-li lives. He wants to change China into a great and wonderful place for everyone to live by saying that everyone is and should be equal. He is a stern leader and will severely punish people who rise against him. Chairman Mao was also a manipulative leader. He is part of the Communist Party, and expects all citizens of China to be Communist too.

Old Quian - A man in his late 70's to early 80's. He was a grandfather and a counterrevolutist. Old Quian likes to walk up the alley without talking to anyone, so the Red Successors accused him of being a black whelp.

Six Fingers - A Red Guard with six fingers on his right hand. Originally named Mr. Ni.

Thin Face - A Red Guard. We think that the age of thin face is about 18-20. Thin face's goal is to serve Chairman Mao to the best of his abilities.

[edit] Chapter Summaries

Liberation Army Woman In 1966 when the Cultural Revolution was just beginning, there was a smart well liked 12 year old girl named Ji Li. In music class, she was brought into a room to show a liberation army woman how flexible she was. Ji Li was asked to lean backwards as far as she could because the liberation army women was examining her to see if she and some fellow classmates were flexible. Ji- Li was asked to audition but her father did not let her try out, because of their political background. Ji Li's family's political background was that her grandfather, whom she never met, was a landlord. In the days of the Cultural Revolution, landlords were considered bad. That was the start of when the Cultural Revolution affected Jiang Ji Li.

Destroy The Four Olds Ji-li and her friends received money from there parents to go rent books at Hung book store. On Sundays it they happily looked for books of all genres; fairy-tails, animal books, and adventure books. She loved looking at the stack of wonderful, interesting books. Just when they finally got settled An-Yi barged in and told them that people were destroying a sign at the prosperity market. People were stomping on the expensive signs, breaking them, running over them with truck, and chopping them with an ax.

Writing Da-zi-bao All students were directed instead Ji-Li's school to participate in the activity of writing big posters da-zi-bao criticizing the education system and teachers. The da-zi-bao is something the whole town and the country do and write bad things about the people and things that they don't like in their school.Ji-Li found out that they are posting the da-zi-bao's on houses of teachers and 'enemies'. These Da-Zi-Bao said mean things about these people and it isn't the nicest thing to post on someones door. Ji-Li did not enjoy this act, but there was nothing she could do to stop this revolutionary act. Ji-Li has an amazing relationship with her teachers, so saying mean things about her teachers was not the easiest action to do.

Red Succesors Ji-Li tells her parents about the Da-zi-bao that was written about her and they are very concerned so they make her stay home for a couple of days. When she finally returns, Ji-Li is chosen to be a Red Successor which is a big part for kids in the Cultural Revolution but one day she is called to go to a meeting with the other red successors. They start talking, and one of them brings up the fact that Ji-li has a landlord grandfather, which was a "four old." Now Ji-Li is picked on and put in a struggle meeting with her Red Successor classmates and she is critisized so harshly that she cries. Lastly, Ji-Li finds out that there would be no graduation.

Graduation Ji-Li is told she does not have to study over the summer for there is no early exam test the next year that she has to take and all of the students will pass. The teachers will assighn kids to the school they think the student will do well in. As expected, Ji-Li gets into a better school even after she got rejected from the red successors. She ran to her friend, An-Yi’s house to tell her the good news and comfort her because of An-Yi’s previous asthma attack. Ji-Li and An-Yi prepared for going to the school of their dreams and bought their new lunch boxes until they heard a rumor that the teachers’ assignments to the schools were canceled. They heard right, students will be assigned to schools in their district. Another one of Ji-Li’s dreams is crushed. Ji-Li just doesn’t understand, she’s a great student and a great dancer but her family’s The black background is holding her back from what she really wants

The Sound of Drums and Gongs The Red Guards searched through Old Lady Rong's apartment. If any four old items were found, they would be taken and destroyed. Things found in the searched homes that were four olds, were taken and transformed into useful things, that weren't four olds. Ji-yong, convinces Grandma to let Ji-Li and him take her to the clinic, for her arthuritus. They decide to go in the neighborhood pedicab, which you can take if have a sick family member. Ji-yong gets to drive, and didn't slow down, so Ji-Li and Ji-yun lost control of it. They end up getting to the clinic safely, which makes him boast to their mother when she gets home.

Propaganda Wall The Propaganda wall is a wall that displays the newest campaigns of Chairman Mao. Now it showcases a painting of chairman Mao and people are always bowing down to him to show loyalty to the communist party. The rag picker ripped the newspaper in half and there happened to be a picture of Chairman Mao on the back. Then six-fingers took him in to the police station because this was considered a fourold. Later in that week, a Red Successor comes to speak about how Chairman Mao came to town and tons of people were gathered from all different parts of china just to be near him and listen to him speak.

A Search in Passing Then Grandma takes Ji-li, her siblings, and her cousins on a picnic because Ji-li’s parents want them out of the house when the Red Guards come. Ji-li saw red guards make Old Man Quian kneel on a wash board while they searched his house. Ji-Li was was worried about the red guards coming to search the house while at the park. There was a mop in the front of the house and that was a sign not to come in. So the family won’t get caught by the Red Guards, Mom and Dad are burning all the old photos in the bathroom. Then the Red Guards come and search their house. So the children would not be afraid Mom and Dad tell them to hide in the bathroom. They opened the door and searched the entire house, destroying almost all of their possessions forever.

Fate The junior high school teachers were still out of the city establishing revolutionary ties and no one could enroll the new students. Ji li was bored and at the same time worried with all the current up and down situations going on. One afternoon, she found her Aunt Xi-Wen sweeping the streets and saw her take what seemed to be a serious fall on the street. She thought she should help her but saw her son walk towards her. To her surprise, he walked right by her Then she remembered that Shan-Shan had written a da-zi-bao after their house had been searched. One December afternoon when An-yi and Ji-li came home from a walk, they saw a big crowd gathered in the middle of the alley. An-yi turned pale and ran to the crowd dragging Ji-li with her. Ji li and An Yi found Du Hai's mom in a struggle meeting in a nearby ally. She was accused of mistreating and lying to her workers and was beaten and embarrassed in front of all the people watching.

Junior High At Last Ji li a twelve year old Chinese girl who lives in china is graduating primary school with her best friend An yi. They both wish not to have any of the same people in the class because they didn’t want anyone to know about their black background. They both get their new classes, there not in the same class but they see no one form last year’s class so they are both really happy. Ji-Li ends up really likening her teacher Zhang Xin. She loves the sound of his voice and how beautiful and powerful his handwriting looked. The teachers teach about Chairman Mao. Ji Li gets offered to write on the blackboard because she has really neat handwriting but she does not want to because she thinks they will investigate and find out how she has a black background and she does not want that.

Locked Up It was now winter vacation and all the kids were starting to stay at there house. One night, Uncle Fan knocked on the Jiang's door. His face was swollen, bruised and bloody, which startled the whole family. The next morning, when everyone awakes, Dad still isn’t home. They are very worried and think that he has been locked up. Ji Li calls their uncle, who was at the party with him, to ask what happened to her dad. He was acting very nervous and didn’t want to tell Ji Li that her father was locked up for not following Chairman Mao’s rules. During all of this, mom’s miner syndrome was acting up. She is getting very nervous and extremely worried.

An Educable Child As Ji li is sewing, she gets a knock on the door, it was Lin lin, a girl in her class. She came to inform her that Teacher Zhang wanted her to attend a meeting the next day. Then Ji lis little brother ji yong walks in. Her grandmother questions him about his trip to see his dad. Unfortunately he wasn't allowed to talk or see him. When she arrived at the meeting she couldn't figure out what it was for. Then she realized it was for class education exhibition. So she went and asked Teacher Zhang. He said that he picked her for a reason and that it didn't matter about her families class status, he believed she was a very good educable child.

Half-City JiangsJi Li’s father becomes cleared of the charge of listening to foreign radio. Ji Li’s dad returns home but just to get a pair of clothing and they find out that he is not able to stay. After that a newspaper article comes out saying that the Jiang’s are a landlord family and that they are very rich. As Ji Li is leaving the house she shouts at her mom," I hate this landlord family." Ji- Li is angry about her landlord grandfather making her life hard so she goes to the police station to attempt to change her name but soon runs away. When she learns that when she becomes and educable child, she breaks away from her entire family, she rethinks her plan.

The Class Education Exhibition Ji-Li’s school holds the Class Education Exhibition, people present in front of the school. Ji-Li is doing a presentation about landlords and how terrible and cruel they were to the slaves and people in debt. Chairman Jin comes to see Ji-Li’s presentation, and actually praises her her job well done. Later, Thin Face asks to have a meeting with Ji-Li about Ji li becoming an educable child. They wanted her to protest against her father at the struggle meetings and break free from her black family. She just couldn’t imagine herself getting up on the platform and leading the chant against her father, maybe even having to slap him in the face or beat him. Ji Li goes to school to help the revolutionary committee but when she arrives she finds that her spot has been replaced because of her political status and her choice. Ji Li runs away from school in shame and realizes that living with her black family is becoming harder than ever.

The Rice Harvest Over the summer, Middle School Students are forced to perform Summer Labor, Chang Hong, Ji Li's friend and classmate convinces Ji Li to go into summer labor on the countryside. She agrees when she learns it would help in her in remolding. Ji Li arrives in a farm in the countryside with some of her classmates. Ji-Li's job is to harvest rice in the fields. The work is backbreaking labor and Ji Li is in much pain, but she's determined to finish. Bai Shan helps her finish. There is searing heat and Ji-Li starts to feels sick. She falls asleep and has to make up for the missed time by working through the night. Later, she learns from Chang Hong that she is returning to Shanghai to complete a study session with her father’s theater. She does not return to the rice field again.

The Incriminating Letter Ji-li returns from her work harvesting in the country. One of her father's colleagues came to talk to Ji li's mom about an important government letter. The letter was a complaint about the Rebels at the theater that Ji-li’s dad works at. She knew that if people from the theater saw the letter, their family would be condemned. Ji-li’s mother came rushing upstairs to say that the people from the theater were coming. Ji-li’s mom gave her the letter and told her to hide it. Ji-li had no idea where to put it and she rushed around their apartment frantically. She finally buried it under the ashes in their cat’s litter box. Then she came downstairs, just to find the theater people taking all her possessions away forever. One of the people searching the house asked Ji-li where the letter was. They made Grandma face the wall on her hands and knees. Ji-li and her family thought it was horrible to watch Grandma suffer, but still did not tell.

Sweeping After the search through the house, Ji-li sees her dear old grandma sweeping the streets. She was being punished for being found as a landlord's wife. After Ji-li's mom talked to Ji-li about becoming in charge of her brothers and sisters she realizes that even though she had been strongly been thinking of becoming an educable child, she had really been there for her family all along.

Epilogue After Chairman Mao’s death, people realized that he had really taken advantage of their trust and loyalty. Ji-li and her family moved to the United States thirty years later. When she moved to the states, she was amazed be how free the people acted and they weren’t afraid to be embarrassed by anyone.

[edit] Themes

Family One of the most important themes in Red Scarf Girl is family should stick together and help each other to get through hard times. Ji-li feels protective of her family and cares that they will not be tortured. Also, Ji-li decides not to be an educable child. She chose instead to stay with her family and support them. For example, her mother says, “If anything happens to your Grandma and me, remember, you’re the oldest. Make sure you take good care of your brother and sister.” Ji-li answered by saying, “I will take care of both of them. I promise.” This shows she really cares about her brother and sister. Ji-li’s family also has to stick together when they are forced to follow the government’s rules of destroying the fourolds. For example, when their house is searched, Ji-li tries her hardest to hide the letter. She is protecting her family when she refuses to give the people from the theater the letter. They told her that she could follow Chairman Mao instead of her family if she gave them the letter, but she knew her family would be miserable if she gave in. Ji-li needed her family during the Cultural Revolution, too. For example, her father tells her that she shouldn’t audition for the Liberation Army dance class. Her father is trying to protect the family from humiliation. Ji-li’s family members need to rely on each other for protection and support.

Prejudice The theme for this chapter is prejudiced. It is prejudiced because no matter what somebody's family history is or what their parents believe you can't judge people by their family's history. In this chapter Ji- Li is judged and severely made fun of because of her family's background when she doesn't even believe in capitalism. The author has been put in torture because of prejudice and she is completely against it. One of the big ideas the book Red Scarf Girl is prejudice. The author believes that the landlord should have nothing to do with her life. Just because she was once related to a landlord who is dead now doesn't and shouldn't relate to her and her thoughts. In the book, Thin face insults Mom by saying, “You're a damned landlord's wife!” Mom wasn't even a landlord's wife because Dad wasn't a landlord. Thin face was falsely accusing Dad of being a landlord. Ji-li thinks in the book, “What does a dead landlord have to do with me?” She was right. Her Grandfather had been a landlord and he died many years ago. Why were they even against landlords anyway! Just because you owned some land and maybe someone rents the space, you are considered a bad person.

Courage One of the themes in this book is to have courage when you are going through hard times. For example, Ji-li wants to take the final exam at the end of the year so she can move up a grade. Another time Ji-li shows courage is when she is picked on by some of her classmates, such as Du Hai. She is so miserable that she thinks she should change her name and break away from her family, but she acts courageous and does not. Courage is a main theme in this book.

Standing Up for Beliefs One of the themes, or the author's message in this story is that you should stand up for what you believe in. In this story, Ji-Li, the main character, faces the communist oppression. She is loyal to the communist party, but she is counted as a capitalist, so she is treated badly by the communists. The theme in this book is standing for what you believe in, and throughout the book, Ji-Li meets many situations in which she would like to speak out against the unjust acts of the Communists. At the end of the book, Ji-Li expresses her thoughts in which she wishes she could have said something and showed how she felt about the Communist's rash actions. Standing for something you believe in is a large portion of this story.

Overcoming Obstacles One of the themes is how to overcome obstacles in tough times. For an example in the book Red Scarf Girl Chairman Mao makes life tough in china because of things called Four olds. Which doesn't allow any foreign things in China. She has to overcome these obstacles by sticking together with her family and not giving up. Another theme is how to deal with bullies and mean people at Ji Li's school. A mean person at her school is a kid named Du Hai. She makes fun of her grandfather because he was a landlord. She has to overcome this by ignoring him.

Loyalty One theme in Red Scarf Girl is loyalty. Loyalty appears in more than one chapter. In Writing da-zi-bao, Ji-li is instructed to compose large banners criticizing her teachers. Ji-li decides not to because she is loyal to her teachers. She now she can't write bad things about her teachers because she always thought what they taught was right. Ji-li is also loyal in Writing da-zi-bao when she doesn't want Aunt Xi-wen to see her face when her class goes to post the da-zi-bao on her door. Loyalty is why she ducked down out of sight, she didn't want her aunt to see her. Ji-li is also loyal to her friend, An Yi. When her grandmother died, she went to the funeral and helped An Yi cry and and supported her. She let An Yi grieve and she comforted her when she was sad. Not only does that make her loyal, it makes her a good friend.

Deception In this story there are many themes that the author brings up and uses but the most common one in this story is deception. The author shows this through out the entire story the leader Chairman Mao has the whole country of China in a cloud of deceit and confusion with the goal to get rid of the four olds. Ji Li is confused during the entire story, “Why is my dad considered black and why does that matter when people think of me.” she thinks. People think what ever Chairman Mao is perfect they never question what he says he tells people to break up old store signs on page 23 no one questions what he says because what ever he says is right to them. This caused Ji-li a lot of trouble through out this story her family is persecuted because of his deceptive teachings they haven't done anything wrong and they are still social outcasts. That is what the main theme is in the story red scarf girl.

Golden Rule The theme of Red Scarf Girl is “treat others the way you want to be treated.” This is the theme because throughout the book there have been many topics about prejudice and family, but even then, the most important thing that came into play were the government or Ji-li’s classmates betraying her and her family and they cant fight back. In Ji-li’s class, Du Hai and many other peers would pick on Ji-li because of her political background. Also, the government has done awful things to a lot of China like detaining citizens and making people lose their minds. An-Yi's grandmother committed suicide because of Chairman Mao. It all could have stopped if they treated others the way you want to be treated.

Staying Strong The theme of the Red Scarf Girl is staying strong to what you what and what you believe in. This theme is demonstrated many times in the book. Other themes are demonstrted also but the most abundant is staying strong. One example is on page 214, I sat in the empty room, picturing telling Mom and Dad that I had changed my name. I jumped up and ran out." As Ji-Li was about to change her name, she realized she didn't want to give up on her family. So, she got up and ran home. She is staying strong by dealing with the critcism and prejudice of her every day life, and still not giving up and breaking the relations with her family. Even though she is excluded and ignored she is staying strong for what she believes is right even though the severe bullying will continue.

Perserverance Ji-Li pushes through and never gives up. She took care of her siblings. She took on new responsibilities, like taking care of her Grandma and mother. She also learned how to cook and shop for her family. Another character that persevered through tough time is An-Yi because when her grandma committed suicide she did not stop she kept trying to help the rest of her family and Jiang Ji- Li. Whenever things went wrong, Ji-li and An-yi would rely on fate to keep their hopes up. Another person who persevered in the beginning of the book was Du-Hai. Even when he was wrong he kept looking for things to use against her, such as knowing that her grandfather was a landlord. Someone else who persevered in the book was Chang-Hong. She was always trying to help Ji-li become someone who wasn’t a member of a black family because she thought that was what she wanted.

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