Part I: Chapter 3, The Red Guards Summary and Analysis

As the Cultural Revolution becomes more intense, struggle session and political indoctrinations take place at all hours of the day and night. Cheng hears a heavy motor vehicle speed up and stop in front of her home. The doorbell starts to ring incessantly and she realizes that the Red Guards have finally come to destroy her home. There are roughly 30 to 40 high school students that enter her home. They demand to have the keys to her home and start to smash mirrors, precious goods and catalog her jewelry. They are doing all of this in the name of performing "revolutionary activities" that are compliant with the wishes of Mao.

Cheng tries to explain to the students that although they are keeping things they believe are important like cameras and electronics, they...