About the Author Lu Xun (Zhou Shuren) (1881-1936) He belonged to a family with a strong Confucian background. Confucianism is a philosophy developed by Confucius, a philosopher and teacher who lived from 551 to 479 B.C.E. It focuses on the importance of personal ethics and morality. He is considered China’s greatest author of the 20th century. He is known for his satirical observations of early 20th-century Chinese society and also a pioneer of modern vernacular Chinese literature. Vernacular literature means the literary work that consists of dialects spoken by ordinary people. Background of the Story This story presents a comparison between Xun’s childhood memories and the middle age scenario. It depicts the conflict between memories, expectations, and realities. After returning to his old home to sell it for ever, he observes the suffering of lower class people. Through his experiences, he presents the gap between higher class and lower class ironically. Character Analysis Lu Xun