In Red Scarf Girl, Ji – Li hiding a letter from the inspectors shows the theme of the book. When Ji – Li’s home is being inspected, her mother hands her a letter that could get the family in a lot of trouble and the text says, “Mom thrust a letter into my hand. ‘Hide this. We can’t let them find it. I’ll try to slow them down,’”(75). This letter is very important, because when Ji – Li hides it, it symbolizes Ji – Li choosing her family over Chairman Mao. This incriminating letter opposes the views of Chairman Mao and the red successors, and would make Ji – Li’s family even more of a target. The author put this in this moment because it is very tense and necessary that Ji – Li needs to hide this letter now, or else the consequences will be dire. It is also here because it is the place in the book where Ji – Li doesn’t know how to deal with her family and the government. Ji – Li has doubts about who she wants to follow, but when she is put under pressure, she knows where her loyalty lies. The theme of this book is keeping one’s beliefs with him/herself even when under pressure. Ji – Li attempts to save her family from the inspectors, and lies to ‘Thin-face’ about the letter, showing how she believes in her family’s ability to get away from this problem and how they can be saved. If she had told ‘Thin-face’ where the letter was when questioned, or turned it in, this would’ve symbolized her turning away from her family, and taking the side of the successors. Making Ji – Li choose between her family and the red successors shows the climax of the story, when the theme is the strongest, and Ji – Li hiding the letter portrays her supporting her family.
You said, “This letter is very important, because when Ji – Li hides it, it symbolizes Ji – Li choosing her family over Chairman Mao” Liesel, from The Book Thief, also values family over everything. She has been through a lot and has become close knit to her foster family. Especially her dad. She stays loyal to her family and in a way, also goes against the government just like Ji-Li. Her family hid a Jew in their home and Liesel kept it a secret for them. Her father was known to not support Nazis and was sometimes given a hard time. Liesel was always there to support her father and he was there for her too. She would always choose family over the government because her family was what she had left. She would lose everything if she lost her family again. Families should look out for each other and help each other. Staying loyal and supporting family members is very important.