Wildflower Symbol Analysis

In the early days of the Cultural Revolution, Ji-li Jiang finds a single, fragile wildflower blooming on the playground of her school, and she sees it as a symbol of herself. She discovers the flower immediately after Du Hai and Yang Fan subject her to an informal struggle meeting, during which they criticize her for her black class status and what they interpret as her attitude of superiority. When Ji-li worries that the flower will not survive without protection, she really worries about her own ability to survive the rising tide of persecution she faces. In the moment, she feels utterly alone and unprotected. But then she goes home to her family—and soon afterward, she learns that Teacher Gu, Principal Long, and others at the school still believe in her and appreciate her achievements. Realizing that she’s not actually alone, she gains the strength to face the trials of her life. This shows Ji-li that just as she felt an impulse to protect the fragile wildflower, there are people in her life who will continue to look after her, too.