Phantom of words

1. Literal comprehension: During Ming reign, cricket fighting was popular at court. The ordinary people had to supply outstanding specimens of crickets to the high officials. A man named Make-good was appointed as neighborhood head to supply crickets to the magistrate. He was severely punished when he could not supply enough crickets.

One day, a fortuneteller gave him the idea to search cricket behind a Buddhist temple in a thicket. He found a large bug and brought home. When his nine-year-old son released the cricket, Make-good was shocked. Later, he found his son dead in the well and became grief-stricken. However, he was overjoyed when his son came back to life, Make-good again found a large cricket but could not catch. Finally, he caught a small cricket and tamed it. However, this cricket brought good fortune in his life. This cricket defeated all other insects and even the rooster. In the end, the magistrate and governor rewarded Make-good. His son regained fall consciousness and vital spirits.

2. Interpretation: This story is based on Chinese context. It deals with cricket fighting in China, which began during Tang Dynasty, and it is still a popular pastime today. Such cricket fighting has been a part of culture or costume in China. This story also tries to show that there is no freedom but authoritarian rule in China. The people in the authority or power suppress the ordinary people. The evidence for this is that the magistrate in this story mercilessly beats Make-good. Therefore, this story seems to attack the totalitarian communism of china. It also tries to show the human instinct to enjoy watching the violent fight of the innocent insects.

3. Critical thinking: This story is interesting, cultural and satirical. It realistically portrays the deep-rooted custom of china about cricket fighting. It also tries to attack authoritarian communism of China and human desire to enjoy violence. However, some ideas of this story are less convincing for me. Do fortunetellers really know about future? How can the fortunetellers of this story know about the cricket of the thicket? How can a cricket defeat a rooster? I find the mixture of magic and reality in this story.

4. Assimilation: I have found this story very much interesting. It is a mixture of magic and reality. After reading it, I have understood not only the Chinese culture related to cricket fighting but also the Chinese authoritarian rule.