How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Carefully, my parents chose my name: Ji-li, meaning lucky and beautiful. They hoped that I would be the happiest girl in the world. And I was. (pro.2)
This is the first thing Ji-li tells us about herself, so clearly it's important to who she is. It's really telling that this is from her parents' perspective, though—at this point, she's still acting out exactly what everyone else planned for her.
Quote #2
Her head was bowed down by a sign that read, REACTIONARY MONSTER WEI DONG-LI. She beat a gong and shouted, "I am a reactionary teacher. I am a reactionary monster." (9.4)
An Yi's mom is publically humiliated for being a teacher. As outraged as that makes us (since Shmoop loves education and all), we can't help but notice the work that's being done here. The Red Guards want to change her identity—she was a respected teacher with a bunch of awards, but now she's a traitor and a monster.
Quote #3
I lowered my head and pretended to check my nails. I wanted everyone to see that I did not care if I was not chosen. My parents and Grandma had warned me against disappointment, so I was prepared. And anyway, the Red Successors were not nearly as glorious as the Red Guards. (4.14)
Ji-li wants people to believe that she's indifferent to what they think of her, but of course she isn't; she still cares a lot about what they think of her. Again we see her struggle with who she is. Ji-li lets other people's opinions of her define who she is, rather than the other way around.