Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See

Characters
Lily (3rd child, 2nd girl)
Mama Papa Elder Brother Second Brother Elder Sister Third Sister – died during foot binding Aunt Uncle Beautiful Moon – died, bee sting	Master Lu Lady Lu Uncle Lu Husband Yonggang – servant 3 sons Jade - daughter
Snow Flower (Lily’s Sworn Sister)
Parents	Husband - butcher Spring Moon – daughter 2 sons
Madame Wang – Matchmaker – Snow Flower’s Aunt Madame Gao – local matchmaker

For discussion:

1.         Lily and Snow Flower endure excruciating pain in order to have their feet bound.  What reasons are given for this practice?   Are there any current Western traditions that you were reminded of as your read these passages?

2.         If some men knew about nu shu and “old same” friendships, why do you think they allowed these traditions to persist?  See page 153.

3.         Reflecting on her first few decades, Lily seems to think her friendship with Snow Flower brought her more good than harm.  Do you agree?

4.         On page 125 Lily states that she felt betrayed by Snow Flower.  Do you think anyone was at fault for Lily’s feelings?  If so, who?

a.  Lilly blames her mother for not telling her about Snow Flower in order to keep her on the path for a good marriage to benefit the family.  Was her mother to blame?

5.         Do you think the concept of “old sames” exists today?  Do you have an “old same” or a sworn sisterhood?  How are these the same or different from those in the novel?

6.         Nu shu is phonetic in nature and depends on the write and reader having the same context to be completely understood.  How is this the same as email and instant messaging?

7.         Consider Lily’s Song of Vituperation (lengthy harsh criticism or abuse) against Snow Flower.  Was she justified?    The song became famous and it increased her standing in the community even as she destroyed Snow Flower.

8.         Why do you think Spring Moon committed suicide?

9.         At the end, Lily charged the other women in her village to copy their autobiographies because she said that by charging the women she was letting them know that their lives have value.  Do you agree with this strategy?

10.       In the end, Snow Flower’s three friends criticized Lily and told her exactly how her actions and words had affected Snow Flower.  Was this a satisfying end to the story?  

a.         On page 243 they said that Lily loved Snow Flower “as a man would, valuing her only for following men’s rules.”  Was this criticism justified?