Discuss the theme of gender roles in Mo Yan's novel, Big Breasts and Wide Hips. What are gender roles? How are they traditionally represented in China? How do they appear in the novel? What effect do gender roles have on the characters of Mother and Jintong in the novel? Do these gender roles positively or negatively affect the characters? Explain.

Jintong is represented in the novel as an ineffectual, useless man-child. Why is this so? What contributing factors have led to how Jintong has turned out as a man? Is anyone to blame? Is Jintong himself to blame? Why or why not?

Discuss the theme of religion in Mo Yan's novel, Big Breasts and Wide Hips. What are the religions that appear in the novel? Is religion a positive, negative, or ambivalent force in the novel? Why? Provide evidence to support your claim.

Why...