Lu Xun's "My Old Home," tells the story of one's memories, from youth to old age, and the confrontation of the delusions created when memories challenge realities. With the protagonist, Lu Xun's persona, being away from home for so many years, images of glamour, beauty, and respectability framed his childhood, diluting his memories. Upon arriving at his long-past home, his memories are forced to come to terms with the truth, thereby shattering his prior conceptions and understandings of the world.
"Ah! Surely this was not the old home I had remembered for the past twenty years?" the narrator declared as he stood in front of an old, broken-down home. Having been worn down by weather and inhabitants, alike, the house's old, perceived, splendor was invisible to the eye, only to be seen in that of the mind. Rationalizing the discrepancy between memory and that standing before him, he tried to convince himself that his "home had always been like this, and although it had not improved, it was not so depressing as imagined; it was only his mood that had changed because he was coming back to the country without illusions". Despite his rationalization, it was clear that his memories had deceived him; having transformed his past home into a grand building it had never been, only to be torn down for re-evaluation along with his other assumed childhood memories that had been built into the magnificent illusions.
After recovering from the shock of seeing his old home, he was informed that his old friend, Jun-Tu, would be returning to town to visit him. Over thirty years had passed since the narrator had last seen his friend, Jun-Tu, and at first, memories were scarce. After pausing for a moment, "a strange picture suddenly flashed into his mind". Stories, ripe from the passing of time, filled the narrator's mind. He was full from the fleshy details he recalled, from the glory of his friend, Jun-Tu's sea-side childhood. Oh, how he wished he could be Jun-Tu. His stories were like candy, appealing to a child and idealized in every way, shape, and form. The narrator could no long wait to reacquaint himself with Jun-Tu; he wanted to hear more of the sea-side glamour. Upon his long-awaited arrival, the narrator was flustered from anticipation. "Jun-Tu stood there, mixed joy and sadness showing on his face. His lips moved, but not a sound did he utter. Finally, assuming a respectful attitude, he said clearly: "Master! . . ." The narrator's memories had deceived him once again. Had Jun-Tu not been his friend? Had they not played together and shared stories with one another? As a child, the narrator was unable to understand class differentiation. He remembered, due to his childhood naivety, that his time with Jun-Tu was that of a mutual friendship. This memory grew until it reached utopian standards. Their friendship had been perfect, he had believed.
The narrator's childhood was shattered. His house was not as it had seemed. Jun-Tu had not even been his equal, living a glorified, sea-side life. Memories had deceived the narrator, blurring truth, ignoring class boundaries, forgetting the power money possessed. How such a divide could form between himself and Jun-Tu, memories and truth was unfathomable to the narrator. The true fickleness of one’s mind and one's memories, of one's past, became apparent. One cannot trust one's recollections of the past. The mind changes the past, glorifies it, in order to glorify the individual. By seeing himself as Jun-Tu's equal, the narrator was able to separate himself from the wrongs associated with class differences. His having to face the truth, having to face Jun-Tu, means having to face poverty within China. His memories had provided a means of protection, a way to detach himself from the inequalities Chinese society produced. Only by confronting his memories, by discovering the truth behind the memories, was he able to see the realities of China.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
➜ When he arrives at his hometown, he was assailed by a depression against which he was utterly powerless because it was not the countryside that he remembered so far. There are no signs of progress. But then again it's probably not as depressing as he seems to feel at the moment either. Since he is not coming back in a happy mood, to begin with.
b. What were the three kinds of servants in China then? What does it indicate about contemporary Chinese society?
➜ China's three kinds of servants (labor) were full-timers, dailies, and part-timers. Those who work all the year for one family are called full-timers (short-timers); and those who farm their land and only work for one family on new years, during festivals, or when rents are being collected are called part-timers (busy-mothers).
It indicates inequality in contemporary Chinese society.
c. What makes the narrator nostalgic? What did he do with Runtu in his teenage?
➜ Runtu showed a very respectful attitude towards him and addressed him " Master which makes the narrator nostalgic because they were so formal in their childhood and Runtu used to call him Brother Xun". They (Runtu and Xun) used to hunt a Zha, Catch birds, Collect shells in their teenage.
d. How did Runtu hunt a Zha in his young age?
➜ At a young age, Runtu used to stab (thrust) with a pitchfork to hunt a Zha, but the crafty animal makes a lightning turn, runs back between his legs, and makes its good escape.
e. How does the narrator make a humorous picture of Mrs. Yang?
➜ Mrs. Yang was wearing a pair of trousers, her hands were on her hips, her legs were apart, she was standing balanced on pitiful little pair of bound feet. So, the narrator makes a humorous picture of Mrs. Kang resembling a compass out of someone's drafting kit.
f. According to the narrator, what were different factors that made Runtu a poor man throughout his life?
➜ Many children, famines, taxes, soldiers, bandits, officials, and landlords gentry made Runtu a poor man throughout his life.
OR
Although the members of his family worked still hadn't enough to eat. Several factors made Runtu a poor man throughout his life. The factors can be listed as:
• There is no security in the field from badgers, Zha, and hedgehogs.
• All sorts of people wanted money, there was no fixed rule.
• Harvests were bad.
• They have to pay several takes and lose money. When he take things to sell, he could not get a reasonable price. If he doesn't try to sell the things might go bad.
g. How does the narrator help Runtu before leaving the old home?
➜ The narrator helps Runtu before leaving the old home by offering him all the things they were not going to take away, letting him choose for himself.
h. How does the author differentiate two kinds of idols?
➜ The author differentiates two kids of idols. One, the real and the other ideal. The reality is quite different from the ideal one. They seem to be land and sky. So, it was difficult for them to meet each other. Sometimes there was some sort of herring sensation. Here we should realize that such situations are prevailing in the present world too.
Reference to the context
a. While reading the friendship between the narrator and Runtu, Hindu readers remember the friendship between Krishna and Sudama. Which particular description reminds you of the mythological example?
➜ In the story " The old home" the narrator and Runtu were childhood friends. They operated in their teenage. They met after thirty years. Ht narrator was Runtu's Master's son. Although they were franks and there was no barrier between them in their childhood but after there meet in adulthood, Runtu addressed him as " Master". Which makes the narrator nostalgic. Runtu was poor as compared to the narrator. So, he hesitated to share everything. But the narrator seems to be open-hearted and with a unique personality. He tries to understand his condition himself and helped his friend, Runtu.
Similarly, in the mythological example of Krishna and Sudhama. They were childhood friends. Both of them gained knowledge from the same guru and were inseparable during their childhood. But later, Krishna become the king of Dwarika whereas Sudhama became a pandit. Sudhama was very poor. So, he decided to meet Krishna and share his condition with him. But he couldn't take the good present. Sudhama thanked Krishna and left the place. And it is said, when sadhana went back to his home, he found his whole house transformed and he has 11 the riches in his house.
So, in both of the stories, friendship makes a person forget every difficult situation. Both, Krishna and the narrator helped the poor friend and became like a prism and separated (refracted) the color in their life.
b. How does the story support the proposition that the relationships of childhood are innocent, impartial, and disinterested?
➜ The friendship that existed between Jun-Tu and Hsun was lively, Positive, and brother-like. They enjoyed talking about catching birds, hunting animals like badgers, Zha and hedgehogs. They were not so worried about the outside world. Their childhood friendship was vivid and mutual. There was no boundary and inequality between them. There exists no superiority and inferiority between them. Both of them were like brothers, not taking advantage of one another and were comfortable with the friendship they shand. But the friendship changes because of the hardships they go through. Distance and social barriers influenced their attitude. So, the story supports the proposition that the relationship of childhood is innocent impartial, and selfless.
c. After reading the story, what inferences can you make about the contemporary Chinese economic and social system?
➜The story "My old home" describes the relationship between the narrator and Jun Tu; the servant's son and also the socio-economic system which exists at that time. When they were a child there exists boundaries between the superior and inferior class i.e. rich and poor class. The poor used to work as servants in their master's house. That boundary was seen after thirty years too. When JuTu meets the narrator, he addressed "Master" to the narrator. But the narrator wants to reduce the barriers between them.
After reading the story, we can make inferences about the contemporary Chinese economic and social system.
In the village, there is a social barrier between the higher and lower class. This refers there is discrimination in society. There may be conflicts between people, Most of the population is based on agriculture. The living standard is very low poor due to high taxes, soldiers, etc. They are living traditionally. They are out of the modern world and technology. But in the city area, people have a different way of living, different economic status, different professions. There may also be barriers between their profession i.e. upper class and lower class. But somehow less than in village area.
d. What does the story indicate about the geographical features of the narrator's hometown?
➜ The story "My Old Home" describes the relationship between the narrator and JUnTu. it has shown the childhood memory of the narrator. he remembers the things that had done with TunTu in his hometown. They used to catch birds, collect shells on the beach, guarding the watermelon patch against badgers, porcupines, and Zha, and kill them.
The story mostly deals with watermelons. So, we can conclude that it must be a tropical or temperate region. Which is favorable for watermelon production. The narrator and his friend used to collect shells on the beach; it means there must be a sea near tier hometown. he says that there are no modern infrastructures in the village. The village may lie at the base of the hill. There may be a forest nearby the village as described by the narrator. The environment of the hometown must e eco-friendly, carbonless, and green.
