Mao's Last Dancers

Perspectives are a product of our life experiences. They could be a way of thinking and a point of view. Mao’s last dancer, by Li CunXin, is a moving autobiography that shows how socio-economic, cultural, political and personal experiences can influence the perspectives on life of a poor Chinese peasant boy who developed his dancing career in the West. His fame and success were acquired because of his personal quality which is his perseverance and determination, the unbounded love and support from his family, strict training and a valuable chance to visit America. These aspects of Li CunXin’s life are discussed in an intriguing and engaging way using a variety of language techniques.

To understand the context of “Mao’s Last Dancer”, it is helpful to consider Li CunXin’s socio-economic background. Li CunXin lived in a cramped house with his seven brothers and parents in the province of Shandong, China. His family had a poor living standard that always went without enough food. Even in the face of adversity, they chose to be optimistic rather than feeling guilty or ashamed. Li’s father taught them, “Although we have no money, no food, and can’t buy clothes, and although we live in a poor house, one thing we do have is PRIDE.” The emotive word PRIDE along with its capitalisation adds emphasis to their strong sense of dignity and self-respect, and shows their supportive and intimate relationship.

Li CunXin’s strong attachment to his country and admiration of his Chinese culture also shaped his understanding of the world. The traditional Chinese allegory “The frog in the well” told by his father made him think about his own place in the world and whether he would be able and lucky enough to escape the metaphoric “well” or the vicious cycle of poverty. Another fine example of his cultural influence was the reign of Mao Zedong. Under Mao’s reign, everyone in China was brainwashed to devote himself to Chairman Mao and his communist party without questioning what they were doing. Mao was idolised as god or some divine being, it was seen in Li’s expressions about Mao, “Hearing our beloved Chairman Mao speak was an opportunity beyond our wildest dreams.” The emotive word “beloved” highlights Li’s enthusiasm and joyfulness when seeing Mao, and portrays his genuine faith in the leader and the party. Li CunXin’s patriotism and his cultural background present the fact that one’s cultural background has a vital