- In the Pond
infobox Book |
name = In the Pond
title_orig =
author =Ha Jin
cover_artist =
country =United States
language = English
series =
genre =Novel
publisher =Vintage
release_date = March 21, 2000
media_type = PrintPaperback
pages = 192
isbn = 978-0375709111
preceded_by =
followed_by ="In the Pond" is a 2000 novel by
Ha Jin , who has also written "Under the Red Flag ", "Ocean of Winds ", and "Waiting". He has been praised for his works relating to Chinese life and culture.The novel centers around the character Shao Bin, a Chinese man working at fertilizer plant, and his epic struggle to obtain a decent apartment for his young family. Continually passed over by the plant's corrupt leaders, Bin decides to fight back against his communist superiors. Conflict espouses when Bin's struggle is met with counterattacks and opposition he could never have imagined.
Themes
Focusing on the oppressive nature of post Mao China, a communist society filled with a higharchy of corruption, and ultimately in an antithetical fashion to
Upton Sinclair 's novelThe Jungle , Ha Jin uses his literary work to convey a central political statement against the injustice of Chinese socialism. Jin stresses the the themes of standing up for one’s self and not letting the powerful and corrupt destroy one’s dreams. There is also a universal and humanitarian theme of lending a helping hand to aid ones fellow man.
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