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
Every afternoon during Meizhen’s nap, Suyin goes to the kitchen to watch Kai Ying work. The more she learns, the more fascinated she becomes with the herbalist’s art. Kai Ying teaches her about the basic ingredients and lets her help package some patients’ daily doses. When Kai Ying praises Suyin’s work, Suyin realizes how much she’s missed being in school. She thanks Kai Ying for the lessons, but Kai Ying protests that she owes Suyin a debt of gratitude for helping manage Tao after Wei’s sudden departure.
Kai Ying’s love and care haven’t just restored Suyin’s physical health, but they have given her hope for the future once again. And the more Suyin acts like a member of the family—taking on responsibilities to support others, not just allowing them to help her—the more she becomes one of them, highlighting the idea that reciprocity forms the foundation of strong relationships.
Themes
Suddenly, Suyin begins to spill out her family history. She tells Kai Ying about her two younger brothers, how her mother raised them all for several years on her own before marrying Suyin’s stepfather. Kai Ying asks if Suyin’s family lives in Guangzhou and if they know about the baby. Suyin says that she left when her pregnancy began to show and hasn’t been home since. Kai Ying’s questions make her worry that Kai Ying will try to send her home. The words tumble from her mouth as she describes her rape, but Kai Ying’s arms surround Suyin in a protective embrace. Kai Ying promises Suyin that she will always have a home in the villa. And the thought of a safe home makes Suyin cry in relief and gratitude.
Both to keep Kai Ying from sending her away and as an indication of how much safer she feels with the Lees than her own family, Suyin suddenly lays out her sad history. Kai Ying’s response shows that Suyin didn’t need to worry, though. She has already become an integral part of the Lee family, like Song did before her. In light of the cruel and terrible things that can happen to a person, Suyin finds herself lucky indeed to be surrounded by a family—the Lee family—that loves and supports her.
Themes
