Respond in 3–5 complete sentences.
Explain how Ji-Cai shows the effects of the Cultural Revolution on the landlord's wife, the tall woman, and the short man in "The Tall Woman and her Short Husband." Give an example for each.
In "The Tall Woman and her Short Husband," Ji-Cai shows the effects of the Cultural Revolution on the characters in various ways. For the landlord's wife, the Cultural Revolution has stripped her of her wealth and status, as she is forced to work as a laborer and live in poverty. For example, the landlord's wife is seen washing clothes in the river, a task that was beneath her before the Revolution.
The tall woman is depicted as a product of the Revolution, as she proudly displays her "red book," a symbol of her loyalty to the communist ideology. For instance, the tall woman constantly berates and belittles the landlord's wife for her past wealth and privilege.
On the other hand, the short man seems to have been broken by the Revolution, as he is described as frail, with a worn and exhausted appearance. An example of this is when the short man can no longer carry the heavy load of wood that the tall woman and her late husband used to effortlessly transport. Through these characters, Ji-Cai effectively portrays the far-reaching impact of the Cultural Revolution on individuals from different social backgrounds.