Rae Yang's "Spider Eaters" and women's experiences during China's Cultural Revolution

Spider Eaters

Rae Yang's Outlook on the Chinese Revolution

Living under a Communist ruler is not a lifestyle that many in the western world are accustomed. Life is much different from the freedoms many in the western world are used to living with. Imagine a friend or family member accustomed to in a life of oppression. In the 1960s Americans were living in a prosperous time. That time period is when many families bought homes and started having families, which is often called the time of the "Baby Boomers." During the 1960s in China, things were remarkably different; China had become a Communist (Socialist) country under the Maoist revolution and later became a close ally of the Soviet Union.

The Peoples Republic of China underwent dramatic changes in 1966 that lasted until 1976. Historically the period is referred to as The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Mao Zedong (Mao) was the chairmen of the Communist Party of China and wanted to advance socialism, thus removing any and all capitalist elements from their society. During this period, Mao imposed his will and beliefs on the Chinese society. This turbulent period resulted in many violent struggles often resulting in persecution and death.

Living in China during this time would have been very difficult. Author Rae Yang wrote a book entitled "Spider Eaters" that documents her life and experiences in China from 1950-1980. An analysis of Rae Yang's "Spider Eaters" will explore the motivation for the Chinese Revolution; it delves into her ideals and the struggles and frustrations with existing as a female in Communist China, and the successes and limitations in elevating the women's status under the rules of the Communist Party.

Motivation for Chinese Revolution

Yang's father, second uncle, and third aunt were educated at the University in Beijing (Yang, 1997). In 1942, Yang's father had made a major decision in his life leaving Beijing and joining the communist party (Yang, 1997). This decision was baffling to Yang as she has been told a variety of reasons for her father making this decision. One reason was that he wanted to help create a new society in which people could be free, equal, and happy.

The genuine reason Yang' father went to Jinchaji was to provide medicine to the many people there who had undergone sickness and were dying (Yang, 1997). Yang's father almost became a martyr for the cause; soon after delivering the medicine to save lives he acquired Typhoid Fever that nearly killed him (Yang, 1997). In 1957, Yang's father later joined the Chinese CIA and began telling his daughter about secrets that she could not tell anyone. This life was exciting and was a time in which she was very proud of her parents. Her father was a mysterious person to her but someone she had a great deal of respect for. Yang's mother and father raised her to believe in the principle of Mao and to be supportive if the Maoist Revolution.

With her father, mother, and grandmothers influence Yang was attracted to the Cultural Revolution. During the 1960s Yang became a member of the Red Guard; a group that was affiliated with the revolutionary movement. As a part of the Red Guard, Yang traveled the country in an attempt to promote the revolution to the citizens of China. In her first seven months as a member of the Red Guard, she denounced teachers at her school and joined in on the beating of a classmate.

Yang's enthusiasm for the Cultural Revolution led to her spreading propaganda, raiding homes, denouncing any adult who was counterrevolutionary, and participation in the beating of people that had been politically disloyal (Yang, 1997). When Yang was in the Red Guard she stated that "rationally I believe that violence was both inevitable and necessary to make a great revolution (Yang, 1997). Yang later stated that "I would say that those seven months of my life were the most terrible in my life" and in confliction with herself "I had never felt so good about myself before, nor have I ever since (Yang, 1997)."

Conclusion

In short, Rae Yang's "Spider Eaters" is a powerful book telling the tale of her inner struggles with her life in China. She grew up a daughter of diplomats that impressed on her the importance of Mao's movement. Yang followed her parent's guidance and joined the Red Guard becoming a part of the Revolution. Yang's life became a constant struggle between what was right and wrong. When moving to work as a peasant on a pig farm Yang reflected on many aspects of her life. She discovered that the biggest regret in her life was that Mao's Revolution was wrong and that it was a complete lie. Yang's story is amazing because she changes from a Revolutionist to a counter revolutionist that is remorseful of the mistakes she made in her life.