‘Lulu,’ Te-Ping Chen’s narrative, encompasses a sentimental theme about the twins, who are faced with the dilemma of the repercussions of political dictatorship and social revolution in their age. The plot portrays twins’ journeys coinciding with the political and social oppressions ruling the world, the power of family, activism, and the cost one pays to take back justice. The narration depicts the processes of personal agency and systematic oppression through the characters of Lulu and the narrator. It suggests that family relations and individual life are conditioned by political repression. Through careful text analysis, the paper exemplifies how the story epitomizes political activism and individual sacrifice and shows the multi-sided image of the consequences of political oppression on family life and personal identity.
The story starts with a young girl, Lulu, who started to get immersed in activism through social media by sharing materials and accusing the government. For instance, when a college student by the name of Xiu Lei was picked and beaten to death by police, Lulu posted on social media, such as #justiceforXuLei, “This country, this policy, is simply too dark” (Chen 4). These social media posts made her account very active. Lulu is motivated to engage in activism because she has unwavering faith in justice and wants to create a fairer social system. In addition, she explains the demonstrations and human rights violations in her posts, which makes it clear that her aim is to publicize the situation and challenge those in power. She tells the narrator that this is something that she has to do (Chen 7). When Lulu’s activities are directed towards the authorities, she cannot fail to face the negative consequences and sacrifices she has to make to uphold her values. The risks are high, but Lulu is resolute in avenging justice; she fears nothing, whether it is intimidation or fear. In the hardships, her resilience symbolizes the transformative power of self-exploration and empowerment as she changes from an ordinary teenage girl to an activist and promoter of change in her new identity.
Lulu’s growing awareness of the injustices surrounding her by the mere existence of social hierarchy makes her reevaluate the state of her society and create an obstacle on her way to happiness in her search for herself. Lulu is exposed to the cruel life of an authoritarian society through her meetings with the dissidents and the activists. Later, she has a strong desire for justice and social transformation. Her story depicts the enormous power of activism in identity formation, in which she learns about herself and the need to fight on behalf of the poor and devastated. Lulu’s heroic fight for justice portrays the indelible will of humanity, which cannot be broken even in the most challenging of times; thus, many others take after her example. This is seen in Lulu’s struggle throughout the storyline, making the readers confront and examine their beliefs and values and, in turn, replace them with the courage to stand up for the right. This reflects the theme of activism and demonstrates how Lulu exhibited courage during those difficult times with her rebellion.
Lulu’s endeavours led to intensified investigations and repressive measures by the authorities, leading to Lulu’s detention. The authorities came for her one night, burst in through the door without warning, and politely informed her that she should go with them (Chen 7). They laid her on the ground and kicked and beat her, and they intended to see her abandon what she was doing (Chen 8). The critical juncture in this normative episode shows Lulu’s commitment to fulfilling justice despite the dire consequences. In her devotion, she gives up her freedom and life.
Moreover, the act of personal sacrifice is disclosed as an emotionally powerful symbol of the unmatched impact of politics on individuals and their relationships. The imprisonment of Lulu demonstrates more than just the risk of social justice speaking and the emotional damage to relations between family members. The spine of the story, Lulu’s suffering, adds more layers to its representation of activism, revealing that it involves sacrifices that activists should be ready for to defeat oppressive structures. Her indefatigable power in the foothold of the trials attests that the story undermines the central theme of resilience and the capacity of justice to be acquired. However, the man who wants justice may have to suffer much pain.
Conversely, the narrator transforms into a professional gamer who uses his skills to play only games instead of actively participating. Despite identifying Lulu’s activism, there is a sense of distance and relevance to staying aloof from the fight. The narrator, at one point, after interrogating her and learning about her activism, conquers what Lulu’s professor told her: to stop her activities online lest they influence her future (Chen 6). A conflict of priorities is exposed by revealing the struggle between individuality and family loyalty, besides the fear of an uprising punishment. The diverging attitudes of Lulu and the narrator show the difficulties included in family interactions under political repression.
Political repression jeopardizes family relationships, and the story can illustrate this through the plotline in which the characters confront the balance of the benefits and disadvantages of Lulu’s activism. Lulu’s parents initially pressed her to be more active, but just like her, they succumbed to anxiety and confronted the thought of the danger and drama she might face. After Lulu’s arrest, her parent flew to Beijing to see her. On their way back, her mother wept all the way home. “What more did she want?” she said (Chen 8). Parents, therefore, bear the emotional burden of political oppression by engaging in contradictory acts of showing concern or worries about Lulu and following tightly to the factors that regulate their lives from a social and political point of view.
In conclusion, “Lulu” by Te-Ping Chen frames the ideas of activism, self-sacrifice, and loyalty to one’s family in the face of political oppression. Lulu and the narrator may be regarded as conceptual characters against whom the story explores the fascinating intricacies of individual agency and the solid political repression that affects family bonds and personal identities. The story becomes the primary weapon for demonstrating how far people can go for the sake of justice, and the narration also highlights that the spirit of those who are ready to defend their rights is invincible. The end is quite interesting since “Lulu” gives the readers a story that will help them reflect upon their values and beliefs regarding political oppression and activism.
References
Chen, Te-Ping. “‘Lulu,’ by Te-Ping Chen.” The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2019, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/lulu
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