Essay Example: Red Scarf Girl Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

Ji-Li Jiang realizes everything else in the world will turn into dust as the red scarf symbolizes violence and imagery occurs as Ji-Li Jiang experiences dark and threatening fear during the Cultural Revolution and she realizes she only needs family as they will always be there for her in the end.

The symbol of the red scarf symbolizes what people have to wear after the cultural revolution and they are governed by Chairman Mao and a piece of their uniform involves a red scarf. The color of the scarf symbolizes a deeper meaning. It lets readers know that the color red symbolized the blood of the martyrs who fought bravely against the Japanese: “We were proud of our precious red scarves, which, like the national flag, were dyed red with the blood of our revolutionary martyrs. We had often been sorry that we were too young to have fought with Chairman Mao against the Japanese invaders, who tried to conquer China” (cite). The meaning of the red scarf often symbolizes the violence and threatening fear of the Cultural Revolution. The red scarf is a connection to Ji-Li of experiences of things that happened before she was born. But, Ji-Li is honored by her culture: “With my red scarf, the emblem of the Young Pioneers, tied around my neck, and my heart bursting with joy, I achieved and grew everyday until that fateful year, 1966” (Jiang 1). She wears the “red scarf” with dignity. Although part of the meaning of the red scarf means violence and hatred. Most of the time Ji-Li was wearing her red scarf with pride because she is proud and honored by her culture.

Although there were a lot of cruel and dark moments during the Cultural Revolution these kinds of gatherings were the upbringing parts of it: “Sometimes on Saturday evenings some of Dad’s colleagues would visit. They called these gatherings “Jiang’s salon.” I did not know what salon meant, but I loved them; they were wonderful parties (Jiang 16).  These gatherings, as concluded many times in the book, are to connect people to one another and show how close the community cares for each other. According to this quote, these “associates” Jiang’s father talks to are more than just his coworkers. These kinds of parties or gatherings are to connect people to one another.  One of Xi-Reng's actor friends made false accusations about Ji-Li’s father to get himself out of custody and this is why Ji-Li’s father was detained: “We clung to each other as we watched him go. We all dashed up to the roof to watch him walk down the alley. He walked a little in front of his escorts. The triangle made by the three heads grew smaller and smaller” (cite). This imagery connects to the theme of the story by showing readers what Ji-Li faced and experienced during the Cultural Revolution. They also mentioned in the book that they can go searching in your houses without asking and can go through your secrets. So, to conclude there wasn’t much freedom during this time period.

The memoir written by herself Ji-Li takes place during the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in 1966:  “That year I was twelve years old, in sixth grade. That year the Cultural Revolution started” (Jiang 1). This started right when Chairman Mao was beginning to govern, Ji-Li is 12 years old and is to be faced with much disarray in her apartment in Shanghai, China which is a city in China filled with very explosive riots. Ji-Li attends a public school near her home: Xin Er Primary. Most of the setting takes place here. The setting rarely changes. The only time it does is when Ji-Li has to go work for Chairman Mao: “To us Chairman Mao was God. He controlled everything we read, everything we heard, and everything we learned in school. We believed everything he said. Naturally, we knew only good things about Chairman Mao and the Cultural Revolution. Anything bad had to be the fault of others. Mao was blameless.” (cite) During this time ji-Li is going through so much suffering. The book takes place during the Cultural Revolution.