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Comparative Essay of Jung Chang's "Wild Swans" and Nien Cheng's "Life and Death in Shanghai"
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It is apparent to the readers of both Wild Swans and Life and Death in Shanghai that there are similarities and mostly differences concerning the treatment of Jung Chang and Nien Cheng along with their families. Though both stories are regarding the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the two accounts are very different experiences and the narrative is told in two different perspectives. Both women and their families were both comprised into the revolution, but it clearly becomes evident that the two different accounts are treated differently under the same supreme ruler and the readers have the opportunity to observe the corrupt political situation the nation was endured in. However different the stories are, there a few similarities if both stories are held in comparison. As the differences hold great importance to evaluate the stories of Jung Chang and Nien Cheng, the similarities are perhaps more significant as they outline the demeanor of both accounts and withhold the moderate key to reason with why these two women had to witness a big event in history, yet one that would scar their lives forever. Nien Cheng was considered to be a “class enemy”. This was brought upon for many reasons such as being educated in England, marrying a rich man who worked with her along side her for Shell (a multinational oil company), being wealthy and enjoying the fine luxuries that the Western society culture had to offer. However, for Jung Chang, she was the daughter of two officials of the Communist Party in China and was not accused of being a capitalist as her family held status in their society and was working under the supreme Chairman Mao. Though both families had their wealthy status in common…. the Chang family was rich too, and like Nien Cheng, enjoyed the finer things in life. Though this was completely defining the philosophy of Communism of having equality, no body accused the Chang family like they did to Nien Cheng. Nien Cheng was an obvious target for the destructive and violent organization of high school students, known as the Red Guards. The Red Guards were organization groups spread throughout China who had a mission to destroy all the “class enemies” with Mao’s support of course. Nien Cheng was selected as a “class enemy” purely because of her past and wealth. Her past in particular was used against her to accuse her of decadent crimes that labeled her an evil capitalist. She was accused of being a descendant of a big landlord family and that her father was a senior official of the pre-Kuomintang government.
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