The Lake Palaces

The Lake Palaces symbolize the secluded, bourgeois life of the Chairman and the cadre. Mei comes here from her impoverished village, the state of which is closer to the reality of most life in China under the Chairman. She is shocked by the abundance of food, leisure time and other trappings of luxury that people who live in the Lake Palaces are afforded. As a symbol, the reader should consider chapters that are set in the Lake Palaces as demonstrative of the hypocrisy of the Chairman's reign: he preaches socialist values of equality, while living in unparalleled luxury.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy symbolizes burden in the context of Mei's character. Before Mei leaves for the Forbidden City in Chapter 1, her mother gives her herbs to prevent pregnancy. Once Mei begins sleeping with the Chairman, she constantly worries about becoming pregnant. Ultimately, once Mei is pregnant, she...