5. How is the notion of responsibility handled in the novel?

[Jen]

5. How is the notion of responsibility handled in the novel? Lilian to her son Joseph; Joseph to his wife and mother; Pare to the boy Edwin; Pao Yi to Harriet. Who has a responsibility to whom in the book?

[Diane]

Joseph gave up responsibility of his wife and mother, he abandoned them. Lilian and Harriet became closer and more free when Joseph left. Pare and Edwin's relationship was my favorite. Pare was the one I rooted for the most. Pare struggled with her responsibility to Edwin and her people. I think this struggle was her undoing. Pao Yi decided to honor his responsibility to his wife and son above his new life and relationship with Harriet.

[Kristel]

Lillian: not sure how she raised such a selfish boy but she did, not sure how she handled that responsibility or if she recognized it but she helped Harriet out where her son lacked.

Joseph didn't seem to feel any responsibility for his wife or his mother. He easily left them to fend for themselves in a home that was inadequate to protect them.

Pare was spiritually connected to Edwin.

Pao Yi's attachment to Harriet had a lot to do with the feet. Somehow the feet of his wife was a burden to Pao and Harriet's feet which were free, thin and long were liberating to him.

As much as Harriet disliked her husband and wanted to be free of him, she seemed to accept the responsibility of wife to share her belongings with him even though Joseph did not share the same sense or responsibility.