It publishers have dubbed Wang Gang’s “English” as a “transcendent novel about the power of language to launch a journey of self-discovery”. This journey is set during the Cultural Revolution, a sad period in China’s history. One might expect the author’s work to be laden with grief and bereft of humor. Not the case!
Mr. Gang exploits the childish innocence and curiosity of his main character, a young schoolboy studying the English language, to describe the mode of the times. In this exchange between the main character (narrating), his schoolmate (Garbage Li) and the school principal, Mr. Gang injects humor when the boys are called into the principal’s office to be punished for their misdeed. This humor just naturally flows over and envelopes the mood of the discussion that follows. It broaches on what perhaps may be the author’s main point--a sad one, albeit—in this smart, endearing and--at times--lighthearted novel.
Mr. Gang exploits the childish innocence and curiosity of his main character, a young schoolboy studying the English language, to describe the mode of the times. In this exchange between the main character (narrating), his schoolmate (Garbage Li) and the school principal, Mr. Gang injects humor when the boys are called into the principal’s office to be punished for their misdeed. This humor just naturally flows over and envelopes the mood of the discussion that follows. It broaches on what perhaps may be the author’s main point--a sad one, albeit—in this smart, endearing and--at times--lighthearted novel.
Garbage Li fixed his eyes on the ground. I was looking up at the ceiling. I heard the principal say, “It’s you. Were you two fighting?”
“Mr. Principal, he hit me first,” Garbage Li declared.
“Shut up! I am not asking you!” the principal barked. Garbage Li lowered his head. The principal then turned to me. “What did he say to you?”
“He said, ‘You’re an asshole.’”
The principal was infuriated, as if he were the object of the remark. “Li Jian-ming, did you say that?”
“Mr. Principal, I didn’t say you’re an asshole. I said he’s an asshole.”
The principal pounded on the desk and boomed, “You are not allowed to say that to anyone, period!”
Garbage Li and I were silent. The principal paused for a moment. “You! Go back to your classroom now and write a self-criticism statement. It has be thorough and soul-searching!”
Garbage Li walked to the door. Hen then stopped and turned around. “Mr. Principal, what is a soul?” he asked.
The principal was about to say something. “Soul…,” he began, then changed his tack. “Don’t worry about what it is, just go and write your self-criticism.
Garbage Li finally left, feeling wronged.
What is a soul? What is soul-searching? I wondered, too.
Discovering one’s self, you’ll need the words to describe it.
[1] Wang Gang, “English”, Viking, 2009
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