Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Hundred Flowers, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Redemption
Journeys and Growth
Suffering, Strength, and Resilience
Home and Family
The Promises and Failures of Communism
Summary
Analysis
Tao sits in his classroom, but he can’t pay attention. He thinks about Wei, worrying about his grandfather’s tendency to close his eyes and withdraw into himself. Something might happen while Wei isn’t paying attention. Tao pleads silently, “Don’t close your eyes” over and over. He thinks about how much he hates school, where the children tease him for his limp. He thinks about how much his leg still hurts, how much he wants to be rid of the limp before Wei and Sheng come home. His only solace is tormenting Little Shan, something he can do now that he’s climbed up the class ranks to sit in the third seat. He can poke Little Shan into squirming and getting in trouble with the teacher or stick mean notes on his back. He can’t tell any of this to his mother, who would chide him for bad behavior. He saves his stories for his father and grandfather.
Like his mother, Tao worries about Wei’s ability to survive in the world beyond the villa. His concern contradicts his claim to hate his grandfather; the strong family bonds of the Lee family create space for forgiveness and love, no matter what mistakes a member makes. In fact, the more things change in Tao’s world, like the loss of his former place at school, the more he clings to his family for stability and security. With both Sheng and Wei gone, Tao must wait for the support he needs to work through his emotions in this trying time of his life. Still, despite their physical distance, their shared love of stories unites Tao to his father and grandfather.
Themes
