Synopsis
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Pacing
- Moderate
- Mood
- Atmospheric, Poignant, Reflective, Culturally Immersive
- Read it if
- You are fascinated by historical women's lives, secret languages, and intense female friendships in challenging cultural contexts.
- Skip it if
- You prefer fast-paced plots with strong action or find detailed descriptions of painful historical practices (like footbinding) too difficult to read.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Plot Summary
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
The Arranged Friendship
In 1823, in a remote Hunan village, eight-year-old Lily (narrating as Old Lily) thinks about her life. Her family, humble farmers, are surprised when the matchmaker, Madame Gao, says Lily's feet are perfectly shaped for footbinding, promising a good marriage. At the same time, Madame Gao arranges a laotong match for Lily with Snow Flower, a girl from a respected but declining family in Tongkou. This bond, sealed by a contract, is meant to last a lifetime, giving emotional support in a restrictive society. Lily is at first impressed by Snow Flower's beauty and poise, feeling less important due to her own family's lower status. Their friendship, however, begins to grow through shared experiences and the secret language of nu shu.
The Agony of Footbinding
Both Lily and Snow Flower go through the painful process of footbinding, a tradition thought essential for a woman's marriage and status. Lily's mother carefully binds her feet, breaking bones and causing great pain, but eventually achieving the desired three-inch 'golden lilies.' Snow Flower, from a wealthier family, has her feet bound by a professional, resulting in equally tiny but perhaps less perfectly shaped feet. This shared experience creates a strong bond between the girls, as they comfort each other through the suffering. The pain and the expectation of beauty and status from this practice show the extreme societal pressures on women in 19th-century China, solidifying their shared fate.
Learning Nu Shu
As part of their laotong bond and preparation for womanhood, Lily and Snow Flower learn nu shu, the secret women's writing. This unique script, passed down through generations of women, lets them express their true feelings, frustrations, and joys in a world where their voices are often silenced. They write letters to each other on fans and embroidered handkerchiefs, sharing their experiences with footbinding, their hopes for marriage, and their observations of the world around them. Nu shu becomes their private place, a lifeline for their deep emotional connection, helping them navigate the rules of their patriarchal society with a shared understanding and closeness no one else can comprehend.
Marriages and Separation
At age sixteen, Lily marries the son of the powerful Lu family, a wealthy and respected match that fulfills the promise of her perfect feet. She moves to the Lu household, where she quickly adapts to her new role as a wife and future matriarch, giving birth to children. Snow Flower, however, marries into the Tong family, which, despite its past prestige, has fallen on hard times. Her husband is a butcher, a low-class profession, and her life is one of hardship and poverty. This sharp difference in their fortunes strains their laotong relationship, as Lily struggles to understand her comfortable life alongside Snow Flower's increasing difficulties, leading to a growing distance between them.
The Rebellion and Exile
During a time of political unrest and rebellion, the Lu family must flee their home and seek safety. This difficult period shows Lily the harsh realities of displacement and fear. They endure a difficult journey, living in temporary shelters and facing uncertainty. Lily, now a mother, must protect her children and help the family survive. During this time, opportunities for her and Snow Flower to communicate via nu shu become rare, deepening the emotional gap that has begun to form due to their different situations. The rebellion acts as a physical and emotional wedge, challenging their lifelong bond.
Misunderstandings and Growing Apart
As years pass, Lily begins to misinterpret Snow Flower's nu shu letters, especially those written during the rebellion. Snow Flower writes about her struggles, her husband's family, and the difficulties of her life as a butcher's wife. Lily, seeing these letters through her own comfortable life and societal expectations, believes Snow Flower is complaining about her fate and implicitly criticizing Lily's good fortune. She sees Snow Flower's expressions of hardship as a lack of resilience or even a veiled accusation. This misunderstanding, fueled by their different experiences and Lily's own insecurities, causes a significant rift in their relationship, leading to a period of coldness and distance.
The Typhoon's Aftermath
A destructive typhoon sweeps through the region, causing widespread damage. Snow Flower's village is hit hard, and her already poor family suffers greatly. The typhoon destroys their home and livelihood, leaving them in an even worse situation. While Lily's family, due to their wealth, recovers more quickly, Snow Flower's struggles increase. This natural disaster shows the vast difference in their lives and the depth of Snow Flower's suffering. It also further isolates Snow Flower, making it harder for her to reach out and for Lily to truly understand the extent of her friend's trouble.
Snow Flower's Illness
Years after their last true connection, Lily learns that Snow Flower is gravely ill and near death. Feeling guilty and desperate to see her laotong one last time, Lily travels to Snow Flower's poor village. This journey forces Lily to confront the stark reality of Snow Flower's difficult life, far from the comfort Lily enjoys. Seeing Snow Flower's suffering and the poor conditions of her home, Lily begins to understand the true nature of her friend's struggles and the depth of her own misjudgment. This visit is a turning point, as Lily deals with her past coldness and the imminent loss of her dearest friend, prompting a painful realization of her own errors.
The Truth Revealed
As Snow Flower lies dying, she reveals the true meaning behind her nu shu letters and her life's choices. She explains that her seeming complaints were not criticisms of Lily, but honest expressions of her pain and her deep love for Lily, trusting her laotong to understand. Snow Flower clarifies that her marriage to the butcher was not a punishment, but a path of duty and loyalty to her family, a choice she made with grace. Overwhelmed with regret and sorrow, Lily finally understands the full extent of her misinterpretations and the unwavering strength and devotion of Snow Flower's spirit. This revelation shatters Lily's long-held assumptions and exposes the profound depth of her own errors.
Snow Flower's Death and Lily's Legacy
Snow Flower dies, leaving Lily consumed by grief and deep regret for her past coldness and misunderstandings. Afterward, Lily dedicates herself to honoring Snow Flower's memory and preserving their shared history. She collects all the nu shu letters, fans, and embroidered pieces, ensuring their unique language and bond are not forgotten. Lily, now an old woman, reflects on her life, her laotong relationship, and the lessons learned. She becomes a storyteller, sharing their tale with younger generations, especially her daughter and granddaughter, passing on the legacy of nu shu and the importance of true friendship, even with its imperfections and challenges. Her final act is to compile their story for future generations.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Characters
Lily (Snow Flower)
Protagonist
A woman who rises from a humble background due to her perfectly bound feet, but struggles with pride and misunderstanding in her most important friendship.
Lily, born into a poor farming family, is chosen for her ideal feet to undergo footbinding, which leads to a fortuitous marriage and a life of relative comfort. She is pragmatic, intelligent, and initially somewhat naive, internalizing society's emphasis on status and appearances. Her deep love for her laotong, Snow Flower, is often overshadowed by her own insecurities and a tendency to judge others based on her own experiences. She struggles with pride and the inability to fully empathize with Snow Flower's hardships.
Relationships: Snow Flower (Lifelong laotong (sworn sister), complex bond of deep love, rivalry, and misunderstanding.); Mama (Her mother, who meticulously binds her feet and instills traditional values.); Husband (Lu family son) (Arranged marriage, providing stability and children.); Madame Gao (Matchmaker who arranges her laotong and marriage.)
Snow Flower
Co-protagonist/Catalyst
Lily's laotong, a beautiful and resilient woman from a once-prominent family, who endures a life of hardship with grace and unwavering loyalty.
Snow Flower is born into a formerly prestigious family that has fallen on hard times. She is beautiful, intelligent, and possesses a quiet strength and dignity. Despite her difficult marriage to a butcher and a life filled with poverty and suffering, she maintains her integrity and her deep love for Lily. She communicates her struggles through nu shu, trusting Lily to understand, but is often misunderstood. Her character embodies grace under pressure and profound loyalty.
Relationships: Lily (Lifelong laotong (sworn sister), complex bond of deep love, rivalry, and misunderstanding.); Husband (Tong family butcher) (Arranged marriage, bringing hardship but to whom she remains dutiful.); Mama (Snow Flower's) (Her mother, who arranges her laotong bond and prepares her for marriage.)
Mama (Lily's Mother)
Supporting
A traditional Chinese mother who diligently prepares Lily for marriage and adheres strictly to societal customs.
Lily's mother is a pragmatic and traditional woman. She is the one who meticulously binds Lily's feet, enduring her daughter's pain for the sake of her future marriage prospects. She instills in Lily the importance of obedience, duty, and the rigid customs of their society. Her actions, though seemingly harsh, are driven by a deep love for her daughter and a desire to secure her best possible future within the confines of their culture. She represents the societal pressures and expectations placed upon women.
Relationships: Lily (Mother-daughter, guiding Lily through traditional rites and expectations.); Father (Lily's) (Husband, maintaining the family unit.)
Madame Gao
Supporting
The village matchmaker and foot-reader who orchestrates the laotong bond and marriages.
Madame Gao is a shrewd and influential figure in the village. As the matchmaker, she holds significant power over the destinies of young women, including Lily and Snow Flower. She is responsible for identifying Lily's 'perfect' feet and arranging the laotong bond, as well as their respective marriages. She embodies the traditional system of arranged unions and the importance of social connections in 19th-century China. Her role highlights the limited agency women had in choosing their own partners or paths.
Relationships: Lily (Arranges her laotong and marriage.); Snow Flower (Arranges her laotong and marriage.)
Lily's Husband (Lu family son)
Supporting
Lily's arranged husband, a kind and wealthy man who provides her with a comfortable life.
Lily's husband, whose personal name is rarely used, is a son from the affluent Lu family. He is depicted as a respectful and kind man who treats Lily well and provides her with a stable and comfortable life. He fulfills the traditional role of a husband in their society, ensuring his family's prosperity and lineage. While not deeply explored as an individual, his character serves to highlight Lily's good fortune compared to Snow Flower's more challenging marriage, and he represents the societal ideal of a successful match.
Relationships: Lily (Husband-wife, an arranged but respectful and stable marriage.); Children (Lily's) (Father of Lily's children.)
Snow Flower's Husband (Tong family butcher)
Supporting
Snow Flower's arranged husband, a butcher from a fallen family, whose profession brings social stigma.
Snow Flower's husband, also largely unnamed, is a butcher from the Tong family, which has lost its former prestige. His profession is considered low-class and brings social stigma, contributing to Snow Flower's difficult life. While not depicted as cruel, his circumstances and profession define Snow Flower's hardships. He represents the less fortunate side of arranged marriages and the rigid social hierarchy of the time, where even a man's occupation could determine a woman's entire fate.
Relationships: Snow Flower (Husband-wife, an arranged marriage bringing hardship and social stigma.)
Auntie
Supporting
An older woman who teaches Lily and Snow Flower nu shu.
Auntie is one of the older women in the community who instructs Lily and Snow Flower in the art of nu shu. She is a guardian of this secret women's language, passing down its nuances and traditions to the younger generation. Her role is crucial in establishing the central communication method between the laotong, and she represents the collective wisdom and solidarity of women within their restrictive society. She also teaches them the traditional songs and stories that embody their culture.
Relationships: Lily (Teacher-student of nu shu.); Snow Flower (Teacher-student of nu shu.)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Themes
The Power and Limits of Female Friendship
The novel explores the deep and often complex bond between women in a patriarchal society where men largely control their lives. The laotong relationship between Lily and Snow Flower provides emotional comfort, understanding, and a unique way to express themselves through nu shu. However, the friendship is also tested by class differences, misunderstandings, and Lily's inability to fully empathize with Snow Flower's hardships. It shows that even the strongest bonds can break under external pressures and internal pride, yet ultimately, the memory of such a friendship can define a life, as seen in Lily's lifelong regret and dedication to Snow Flower's legacy.
“A laotong is for life. It is a friendship made by choice, not by family. It is a bond that no man can break, no family can deny.”
The Oppression and Resilience of Women in 19th-Century China
The novel vividly shows the restrictive lives of women in 19th-century China, where their value is mostly determined by foot size and marriage prospects. Footbinding, arranged marriages, and the constant pressure to have male heirs are central to their existence. Despite these immense societal limits, women find ways to act and build internal worlds. Nu shu, the secret women's writing, becomes a symbol of their resilience, allowing them to communicate their true feelings, share their burdens, and create a unique female culture that exists beneath the surface of patriarchal control. Snow Flower, in particular, shows resilience through her quiet endurance of hardship.
“A woman's life is a series of births. First, you are born a daughter. Then you are born a bride. Then you are born a mother. And then, if you are lucky, you are born a grandmother. But a woman is never truly born for herself.”
The Impact of Social Class and Status
Social class greatly shapes the destinies of Lily and Snow Flower, deeply affecting their experiences and their friendship. Lily's 'perfect' feet secure her a marriage into a wealthy and respected family, giving her a life of comfort and influence. In contrast, Snow Flower, despite her noble lineage, marries into a poor family with a low-status profession, leading to a life of hardship and poverty. These different paths create a growing gap between the two women, as Lily struggles to understand Snow Flower's difficulties from her privileged position, leading to misunderstandings and the eventual breaking of their bond. The novel highlights how deeply ingrained class distinctions dictated every aspect of life.
“Our lives were like two rivers, flowing side by side. Mine, deep and wide, flowing to the sea. Hers, a narrow stream, caught in the mountains.”
Misunderstanding and Regret
A central theme is the tragic results of misunderstanding and the burden of regret. Lily, due to her own pride, limited view, and societal upbringing, repeatedly misinterprets Snow Flower's nu shu letters and her life choices. She sees Snow Flower's struggles as weakness or complaint, rather than resilience and duty. This leads to a period of coldness and distance in their friendship, which Lily only fully understands on Snow Flower's deathbed. The deep regret Lily feels after Snow Flower's death becomes the driving force behind her later life, as she dedicates herself to understanding and honoring her laotong, turning her sorrow into a legacy of remembrance and a warning about empathy.
“I had judged her by the size of her feet, the poverty of her home, and the shame of her husband's profession. I had judged her by all the things that mattered least.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Nu Shu (Secret Women's Writing)
A unique phonetic script used exclusively by women to communicate their innermost thoughts.
Nu shu is the most significant plot device, serving as the primary means of communication and emotional expression between Lily and Snow Flower. It allows them to bypass the patriarchal constraints of their society and share their private lives, joys, and sorrows. The nu shu letters and fans are not only physical objects of their bond but also a symbolic representation of female solidarity, resilience, and a hidden world of women's experiences. The misinterpretation of nu shu letters ultimately drives the central conflict and misunderstanding in their relationship, highlighting both its power and its potential for miscommunication.
Footbinding
The painful and traditional practice of binding young girls' feet to create 'golden lilies'.
Footbinding is a crucial plot device that immediately establishes the oppressive societal norms and the limited agency of women. It is both a physical ordeal shared by Lily and Snow Flower, forging an early bond, and a symbolic representation of a woman's value and destiny. Lily's 'perfect' feet secure her a good marriage, while the general practice dictates much of a woman's life path. The pain and sacrifice associated with footbinding underscore the extreme lengths women were expected to go to conform to beauty standards and social expectations, directly impacting their marriage prospects and overall quality of life.
Laotong (Old-Same)
A lifelong sworn sisterhood, an arranged emotional bond between two girls.
The laotong relationship is the foundational plot device, creating the central dynamic of the novel. It is an arranged, lifelong emotional contract between two girls, intended to provide mutual support and companionship in a world where women's lives are otherwise isolated. This bond allows for the deep intimacy and shared experiences between Lily and Snow Flower, which drives the narrative. The evolution and eventual fracturing of this sacred bond, and Lily's subsequent regret, form the core emotional journey of the protagonist, demonstrating the profound significance of such a relationship in their culture.
The Fan
A physical object used for writing nu shu letters and exchanging messages.
The fan serves as a tangible plot device for communication between Lily and Snow Flower. It is a portable and discreet medium for their nu shu letters, allowing them to exchange thoughts and feelings even when physically separated. The act of writing on and exchanging fans symbolizes their secret world and the intimate nature of their bond. As the story progresses, the fans become repositories of their shared history, their joys, and their misunderstandings, ultimately serving as powerful mementos of their friendship, collected and cherished by Lily in her old age.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Quotes
“A girl is a guest in her father's home, a slave in her husband's.”
“We women are born to suffer. This is our lot, our fate, our destiny.”
“A woman with bound feet is a treasure of the inner chambers.”
“My duty was to my family, to my husband, to my children. My heart belonged to Snow Flower.”
“The fan was our world, our only true freedom.”
“We were not allowed to ask what we wanted, only to say what we were given.”
“When we are young, we think we are the only ones who know anything. But as we age, we learn that we are not the first to suffer, and we are not the last.”
“To be a woman is to be an outsider, even in your own home.”
“A girl's life is a journey from the outer chamber to the inner chamber, and then to her husband's outer chamber.”
“We were two halves of one whole, bound by the invisible thread of our nu shu.”
“The greatest sorrow is to live without a true friend.”
“It is better to be a dog in a peaceful time than a human in a chaotic time.”
“Sometimes, the things we do for love are the very things that cause us the most pain.”
“We were born into a world where a woman's worth was measured by the size of her feet and the sons she bore.”
Quiz
10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.
Question 1
What is the primary reason Lily's family considers her an 'expensive mouth to feed' at the beginning of the story?
- She has a rebellious spirit and often runs away.
- She is the youngest of many daughters, and daughters are generally seen as a burden.
- She has a chronic illness that requires expensive medicine.
- She refuses to help with household chores or farm work.
Show answer
B. She is the youngest of many daughters, and daughters are generally seen as a burden. In 19th-century China, daughters were often seen as financial burdens to their birth families because they would eventually marry into another family and their labor would be lost, unlike sons who stayed and supported their parents.
Question 2
What skill, besides footbinding, does Lily learn that is specifically for women and becomes crucial to her relationship with Snow Flower?
- Silk weaving
- Traditional Chinese medicine
- Nu shu, the secret women's writing
- Calligraphy using standard Chinese characters
Show answer
C. Nu shu, the secret women's writing Lily learns nu shu, the secret women's writing, which allows her and Snow Flower to communicate intimately and privately throughout their lives, often on fans or embroidered items.
Question 3
What is the name of Lily's 'laotong' (old-sworn sisters) match?
- Lady Lu
- Snow Flower
- Third Sister
- Auntie
Show answer
B. Snow Flower Snow Flower is Lily's laotong, a bond that is considered as strong as, if not stronger than, marriage in their culture.
Question 4
Why does Lily's family initially believe her footbinding will bring them 'extraordinary good luck'?
- The matchmaker predicts she will marry into the imperial family.
- Her feet are deemed to be naturally flawless, promising a good marriage.
- She is the first girl in her family to undergo footbinding.
- A famous footbinder offers to bind her feet for free.
Show answer
B. Her feet are deemed to be naturally flawless, promising a good marriage. The matchmaker delivers news that Lily's feet, if bound properly, will be flawless, which is a rare and highly desirable trait that significantly increases a woman's marriage prospects and thus her family's fortunes.
Question 5
What significant event causes the 'bitter reversal of fortune' that changes everything for Lily and Snow Flower?
- A natural disaster destroys their village.
- Snow Flower's family loses their wealth and she is married to a butcher.
- Lily's husband dies unexpectedly, leaving her a widow.
- A war breaks out, forcing both families to flee.
Show answer
B. Snow Flower's family loses their wealth and she is married to a butcher. Snow Flower's family suffers a dramatic loss of status and wealth, leading to her being married to a humble butcher, a match far below what was expected for her and a stark contrast to Lily's own advantageous marriage.
Question 6
What is the primary cultural significance of a woman's 'golden lilies' (bound feet) in 19th-century China, as depicted in the book?
- They symbolized a woman's physical strength and ability to work in the fields.
- They were a mark of beauty, status, and eligibility for a good marriage.
- They were worn exclusively by women of the imperial court.
- They indicated a woman's literacy and education.
Show answer
B. They were a mark of beauty, status, and eligibility for a good marriage. Bound feet were considered the epitome of feminine beauty and a strong indicator of social status, as only wealthy families could afford to keep women from working, allowing their feet to be bound to such an extent. This directly impacted a woman's marriage prospects.
Question 7
How does Lily's perception of Snow Flower change after Snow Flower's marriage to the butcher?
- Lily feels greater respect for Snow Flower's resilience.
- Lily becomes jealous of Snow Flower's newfound independence.
- Lily begins to look down on Snow Flower, misinterpreting her struggles as a moral failing.
- Lily becomes more protective and tries to help Snow Flower escape her marriage.
Show answer
C. Lily begins to look down on Snow Flower, misinterpreting her struggles as a moral failing. Lily, secure in her own prosperous marriage, struggles to understand Snow Flower's reduced circumstances and the hardships she faces. She often misinterprets Snow Flower's quiet suffering and resilience as a lack of effort or a moral failing, leading to a growing rift and judgment.
Question 8
What is the 'Women's Chamber' and what is its significance?
- A public hall where women gathered for entertainment.
- The private inner rooms of a house where women spent most of their lives.
- A room where women performed religious rituals.
- A marketplace exclusively for women to trade goods.
Show answer
B. The private inner rooms of a house where women spent most of their lives. The Women's Chamber refers to the secluded, private areas within a wealthy Chinese household where women were expected to spend most of their lives, isolated from the outside world and men. It highlights the restrictive lives of women and the importance of female bonds and nu shu for communication.
Question 9
What ultimately leads to the final, irreparable break in Lily and Snow Flower's relationship, from Lily's perspective?
- Snow Flower confesses to having an affair with Lily's husband.
- Lily discovers Snow Flower has written critical nu shu messages about her.
- Snow Flower refuses to help Lily during a family crisis.
- Lily's mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Snow Flower.
Show answer
B. Lily discovers Snow Flower has written critical nu shu messages about her. The ultimate betrayal, from Lily's perspective, comes when she finds a nu shu letter written by Snow Flower to her 'sworn sisters' (not Lily), detailing her suffering and appearing to criticize Lily's lack of understanding and perceived good fortune. This misunderstanding leads Lily to believe Snow Flower was not a true laotong.
Question 10
What is the overarching theme the novel explores regarding female relationships in a patriarchal society?
- The inevitable competition and jealousy among women.
- The power of female bonds (like laotong and nu shu) to provide solace and identity in restrictive lives.
- The constant struggle of women to achieve political power.
- The necessity for women to abandon tradition for personal freedom.
Show answer
B. The power of female bonds (like laotong and nu shu) to provide solace and identity in restrictive lives. The novel primarily explores how women, confined by societal norms and footbinding, create deep, meaningful relationships like the laotong bond and use secret languages like nu shu to find solace, express themselves, and forge an identity separate from their roles as wives and mothers.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan FAQ
What is the central relationship in the story, and why is it so significant?
The central relationship is the laotong, or 'old-same,' bond between Lily and Snow Flower. This lifelong, soul-mate-like friendship, formed through a formal contract, is crucial because it provides emotional support and intellectual companionship for women in a society where their primary roles were marriage and childbearing, often with little connection to their husbands.
How does footbinding impact Lily's life and opportunities?
Footbinding profoundly shapes Lily's destiny, ensuring her 'perfect lotus feet' secure an advantageous marriage to the son of the powerful Lu family. This elevates her social status and brings prosperity to her birth family, but it also causes immense physical pain and limits her mobility throughout her life, a constant reminder of the societal expectations placed upon women.
What is nu shu, and how does it function within the narrative?
Nu shu is a secret phonetic writing system developed and used exclusively by women in Hunan province. In the narrative, it serves as the primary means for Lily and Snow Flower to communicate their innermost thoughts, feelings, and life experiences, allowing them a private world of literacy and expression hidden from men and the patriarchal society.
What is the primary conflict that tests Lily and Snow Flower's laotong bond?
The primary conflict arises from a series of misunderstandings and perceived betrayals, particularly after Snow Flower's marriage to a butcher, which Lily views as a disgrace and a sign of Snow Flower's poor character. Lily's judgment, fueled by societal expectations and her own insecurities, leads her to distance herself and misinterpret Snow Flower's suffering.
What 'bitter reversal of fortune' dramatically alters the lives of the characters?
The 'bitter reversal of fortune' refers to Snow Flower's disastrous marriage to a butcher, a significant downgrade from her expected match, and later, the Taiping Rebellion. The rebellion forces both women to flee their homes, endure extreme hardship, and witness immense suffering, further complicating their relationship and individual struggles.
What is the significance of the fan that Lily and Snow Flower exchange?
The fan is a deeply symbolic object upon which Lily and Snow Flower write their nu shu letters and poems to each other. It represents their shared secret world, their emotional intimacy, and the physical manifestation of their laotong bond, carrying their confessions, joys, and sorrows across distances and time.
How does the author use the structure of the narrative (Lily's old age perspective) to enhance the story?
The narrative is framed by an elderly Lily recounting her life story, primarily focused on her relationship with Snow Flower. This retrospective allows for reflection, regret, and a deeper understanding of past events, revealing Lily's evolving perspective and her eventual remorse for her actions towards Snow Flower.
Are there any subtle hints early in the story about Snow Flower's eventual fate?
Yes, there are subtle hints, particularly in the contrast between Lily's meticulously bound feet and Snow Flower's slightly less perfect ones, as well as the initial matchmaker's assessment of their families' fortunes. These details, though seemingly minor, foreshadow the differing paths and social statuses they will ultimately inhabit.
How does Lily's upbringing and social climbing influence her relationship with Snow Flower?
Lily's humble beginnings and her family's desperation for her to make a good match instill in her a deep-seated ambition and a fear of social disgrace. This makes her overly judgmental of Snow Flower's 'lower' marriage and perceived failings, ultimately prioritizing social standing over the purity of their friendship.
Discuss the psychological impact of societal expectations on Lily and Snow Flower.
Societal expectations, particularly regarding marriage, family honor, and female subservience, exert immense psychological pressure. Lily internalizes these, leading to her rigid judgment and inability to empathize fully with Snow Flower's circumstances. Snow Flower, despite her resilience, suffers greatly from the shame and hardship of her 'poor' marriage, which is viewed as a personal failure in their culture.
How does the concept of 'face' or honor manifest in the characters' decisions and interactions?
The concept of 'face' is paramount, driving many of Lily's decisions. She is deeply concerned with maintaining her family's and her own honor, leading her to distance herself from Snow Flower when Snow Flower's life takes a turn for the worse. This fear of losing face prevents Lily from offering true, unconditional support, demonstrating how deeply honor dictated social interactions.
What role does unexpressed emotion or miscommunication play in the deterioration of the laotong bond?
Unexpressed emotions and miscommunication are central to the bond's deterioration. While nu shu allows for deep expression, Lily often fails to truly understand or empathize with Snow Flower's pain, instead projecting her own anxieties and judgments. Crucially, Lily's public betrayal of Snow Flower through her 'accusatory' letter is a devastating act of miscommunication, destroying trust.
Was Lily truly a 'bad friend,' or was she a product of her time and circumstances?
This is debatable. While Lily made choices that deeply hurt Snow Flower, particularly her public condemnation and lack of understanding, she was also a product of a rigid patriarchal society that placed immense pressure on women regarding status and family honor. Her actions stemmed from fear and ambition, but her ultimate remorse suggests a complex character, not simply a 'bad friend.'
Could Snow Flower have done more to preserve the friendship, or was she a victim of circumstances beyond her control?
Snow Flower largely appears as a victim of circumstances, particularly her arranged marriage and the subsequent societal shunning. While she consistently sought to maintain their bond and express her love, her low social standing and the intense suffering she endured limited her agency. Lily, with her higher status, arguably had more power to extend grace and understanding.
What is the ultimate message or lesson the book conveys about female relationships?
The book conveys the profound importance and complexity of female relationships, particularly in oppressive societies. It highlights their capacity for deep love, support, and understanding, but also their vulnerability to societal pressures, misunderstandings, and personal failings. It ultimately suggests that forgiveness and empathy, even if belated, are crucial for true connection.
How does the novel challenge or uphold traditional views of women in 19th-century China?
The novel both upholds and challenges traditional views. It depicts the harsh realities of footbinding, arranged marriages, and female subservience, showing women's limited agency. However, through nu shu and the laotong bond, it also reveals a hidden world of female intellect, emotional depth, and resilience, challenging the notion that women were merely passive figures.
Is Lily's regret in old age a sufficient redemption for her past actions towards Snow Flower?
Whether Lily's regret offers sufficient redemption is open to interpretation. While her remorse is profound and she spends her later years honoring Snow Flower's memory, the pain she inflicted was immense and irreversible. Her regret offers her personal peace and a re-evaluation of her life, but it cannot undo the suffering Snow Flower experienced due to Lily's judgments.
What is the significance of the final scene where Lily sees Snow Flower's spirit?
The final scene, where the elderly Lily sees Snow Flower's spirit, signifies Lily's ultimate acceptance, forgiveness, and the enduring nature of their bond beyond life. It represents a spiritual reunion and the culmination of Lily's lifelong grief and remorse, offering a sense of peace and closure to her long-held guilt.
About the author
Lisa See is an American writer and novelist. Her books include On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family (1995), a detailed account of See's family history, and the novels Flower Net (1997), The Interior (1999), Dragon Bones (2003), Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2005), Peony in Love (2007) and Shanghai Girls (2009), which made it to the 2010 New York Times bestseller list. Both Shanghai Girls and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan received honorable mentions from the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature.
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- The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
3.9 (3.8M) average on GoodreadsHistorical FictionIn the opulent Roaring Twenties, a mysterious millionaire's lavish parties hide his desperate, tragic pursuit of a lost love, exposing the emptiness within the American Dream.
- Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
4.3 (3M) average on GoodreadsHistorical FictionIn a society focused on status and money, Elizabeth Bennet navigates love and pride, challenging Mr. Darcy and social expectations to find true affection.
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