From Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng

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From Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng

“It seemed the handcuffs had already broken my skin and were cutting into my flesh” (121). 

This quote shocked me. The treatment and torture she received was stunning. The way she describes the weather or the rice or the small dirty room with the cement toilet leaves the reader filled with imagery (113). I can imagine the annoyed guards’ faces when she quoted Mao (116). I can feel the dust in the room she is in. I can also imagine the horror of her discovery of the blood on her wrists (121). At this moment, she wonders if she can ever write again in the future. In times like this, I may not be looking to the future as she does. But somehow, even when she is terrified and injured, she looks to the future and thinks about how things will be when, not if, this is all over. It goes without saying that she is brave. She tells us she is scared, but her actions say otherwise, and her unflagging strength shows us how spirited and confident in herself she is. 

I think looking back on a time when she wondered whether she would lose the ability to work and write in the future is very significant. This passage was written by her in the future, comforting us with the knowledge that she did survive and still had the ability to write about her experiences. Perhaps she wrote this to show the importance of not compromising your morals and dignity under immense pressure. Maybe she also wrote this to bring awareness to historical events and the evils of communism. Whatever the reason, I'm glad she shared this horrifying experience because it shows how strong she is.