To Live by Yu Hua Book Analysis

Despite its potential to seem depressing, Yu Hua’s To Live (1993) can be seen as inspiring. I explore in this essay the ways in which Fugui’s life can inspire through a) his personal growth, b) his resilience, and c) his contentment in the present. Although Fugui starts his story as a rather despicable character, he grows quickly to be a better person. He undergoes many hardships but is resilient and survives, and even seems content in the end. It is through Fugui’s realistic struggles that his story is able to inspire. 

Through the course of the book, Fugui evolves a lot as a person. His growth demonstrates a belief that people can change for the better. Although his behavior begins as reprehensible, after he loses all of their money, he very quickly takes responsibility for his family’s well being. “In one sense Dad died by my hand, and now my mom, Jiazhen and even Fengxia had to stay with me and suffer” (40). With this responsibility he grows to care for and treat people better, even at the dispense of his own pride and desires. When his mother doesn’t want to move away from his father’s grave, he asks to rent some land back. “That one sentence made me stop thinking of any new ideas. . . . I decided my only choice was to approach Long Er” (46). 

This initial growth is not the end. Fugui remains a complex, imperfect character who continues to improve himself. We can see this in his contentious relationship with his son Youqing, compared to how he treats Kugen. Fugui has a short temper towards Youqing. He is a reminder of how Fugui used to be. “When he was still in Jiazhen’s stomach I had hit him, so he was scared of me” (91). Fugui doesn’t want to raise another son like himself and his father. He yells at Youqing and spanks him, especially when he seems to be ungrateful. However looking back, Fugui frequently recognizes his overreactions and misperceptions. 

A turning point in Fugui’s treatment of Youqing is when he decides to buy him candy. “I realized that I would have to start being more careful about scolding him and hitting him. . . . I bought Youqing five fen worth of candy. . . . I felt I should show Youqing that I loved him” (123). Although this attempt does not turn out well, it marks the shift in his perception of Youqing. Not as ungrateful for his sister’s sacrifice for his education, but as caring and sensitive. Fugui manages to improve their relationship somewhat before it's cut short. However it is with Kugen that Fugui is able to express his love as he could not to Youqing. No longer thwarted by his fear of raising a wastrel.

Fugui goes through many hardships, but shows inspiring resilience in the face of it all. When he initially gambles everything away, he is tempted to hang himself on his way home. “I didn’t really want to die, I just wanted to find a way to punish myself. I figured there was no way that damn debt would hang with me” (28). Taking care of his family in the situation he created is more important than punishing himself for it. Fugui finds strength in love for his family. From then on he accepts his situation and perseveres no matter what happens, demonstrating the importance of connection in building resilience. 

When he is conscripted into the Nationalist troops, Fugui does his best to survive and get back to his family. Through his desire to return to them, he is able to hold on through increasingly hopeless circumstances. Finally free to go home, his love for his family prevents him from joining the Liberation Army. “I figured that since they had been so good to me, I ought to do something to repay their kindness. But I was terrified of war and afraid I’d never see my family again” (80). Even as he loses loved ones, his love for them makes him value life more. 

Beyond surviving, Fugui has a remarkable ability to make the best of things and be content. He doesn’t try to cling to his old life as a rich man, but moves on. His discomfort in donning a silk shirt again signifies how thoroughly he accepts his new life. “As soon as I put on that silk shirt, I took it right off. . . . It felt like I was wearing clothes made of snot” (51). During his conscription, he is able to laugh with friends despite the horrible circumstances. “As we cooked our rice we watched those barefoot guys half-walking, half-hopping around in the middle of winter. We couldn’t stop laughing” (70). 

His ability not to stay immersed in his pain allows him to be happy despite all of his hardships. Fugui is still content, even as the last remaining member of his family. Although he surrounds himself with his memories, he does not cling to his past suffering. And through telling his story to the young man, there is still hope for the future. Fugui’s contentment with his life demonstrates to readers how not to make happiness contingent on things out of reach. “It’s better to live an ordinary life. If you go on striving for this and that, you’ll end up paying with your life” (231).