Describe Lao's childhood. How does this compare with the childhood of her own children?

What is Lao's sister like? What is her brother like? How do the two differ? How are they the same?

How does Lao come to marry her husband? Why do her parents choose this man as her mate? What is her life as a young bride like?

What does Lao do when her husband doesn't bring home food? How does this compare with what her mother would have done? What does Lao eventually do to feed herself and her children?

How many children does Lao have? Describe them.

Mantze blames Lao for her lifetime of disappointments. What are the specific aspects of her life that Mantze finds disappointing? Why does she blame Lao? What has Lao really done for Mantze?

Who is Chinya? What is her fate? Was her life...