Summary and Analysis of My Old Home

Brief Introduction

‘My Old Home’ is a story about Xun’s memories, from youth to middle age that depicts the conflict between memories and realities. The story describes how Xun feels while being away from home for many years. Upon arriving at his long-past home, his memories are forced to come to confront with the realities. His prior conceptions and understandings of the world come into conflict with his realities.

Main Summary

The story "My Old Home" is set in the narrator's childhood town in China. The narrator returns to his childhood home and experiences various flashbacks from his youth. He recalls a brief relationship with his family's part-time laborer's kid, "Jun-tu". He re-meets his forgotten neighbors. The narrator and his mother are selling their stuff since they are relocating. Their departure left the narrator's recollections behind.

It's been so long since the narrator has seen his family that his recollections have been clouded by visions of glitz, beauty, and respectability that he grew up among. When he returned to his childhood home, his memories were forced to confront the reality, which shocked his preconceived notions about the universe. "Ah!" said the storyteller. Standing in front of an old, run-down house, he asked himself, "Surely this was not the old home I had recalled for the previous twenty years?". 

The house's former, perceived grandeur was obscured by weather and people alike, and could only be seen with the imagination. With his mind made up, he tried to convince himself that "this was how my home had always been and although it had not improved, it was not so depressing as imagined; it was only my mood that had changed because he was coming back to the country without fusions" to rationalise the discrepancy between his memory and what was in front of him. His memories had fooled him regardless of what he tried to convince himself. 

His boyhood house had become a beautiful structure that it had never been, only to be destroyed for re-evaluation along with the other false memories that had been incorporated into the gorgeous illusions. Running back to town to meet Runtu was the next surprise after seeing his old house for the first time in almost a decade. The narrator hadn't seen Runtu in thirty years, and his recollections of him were hazy at first. "A weird image suddenly flashed into his head," after he paused for a minute. The narrator's head was full of stories that had matured with the passage of time. He was stuffed with all the wonderful details he remembered about his boyhood buddy Runtu, who had lived on the seashore. His tales were like sugary candies to a kid because they were so perfect in every aspect. 

Runtu had long been on his mind, and the narrator couldn't stand waiting any longer to reacquaint/remember himself with him. With great excitement, the narrator welcomed his much-anticipated arrival. Runtu stood there, his beautiful lips moving in a mixture of happiness and sorrow, but he did not say anything. Finally, in a reverent tone, he said, "Master!". Once again, the narrator's recollections had fooled him. This prompted the narrator to reexamine his relationship with Runtu. Had they not spent time together as children, playing games and exchanging stories? 

The narrator had trouble understanding the concept of social status as a kid. Because of his naivety as a kid, he looked back on their time together as a friendship. This recollection improved and improved until it met all the criteria. He had assumed their relationship was great. The narrator's early life was tragically cut short due to his father's infidelity. It turned out that his home was not what it appeared. Runtu, on the other hand, was a spoiled brat who had made a career out of being by the water. This person's recollections misled the narrator by distorting reality and blurring lines between social classes. A gap had opened up between the narrator and Runtu, his recollections, and the reality. 

Unpredictability in the mind of the storyteller and the mind alters the past, praises it in order to exalt the person. Running into his recollections and his history in an unexpected manner. A character who declares himself to be from a lower socioeconomic level before his friend/narrator demonstrates classicism His recollections had served as a shield, allowing him to separate himself from the injustices that Chinese society imposed on him. He could only see the truth about China after facing his memories and finding the reality hidden underneath them. In the end, the narra Set and his family departed Runtu with a few household items before returning to their new home in town.

Subjects of The Story

• Memories and friendship

• Nostalgia

• Ancient Chinese Poverty

• Discordance between what people remember and what they really experienced

Analysis

This story is about Lu Shun's recollections, from childhood to old age, and the hostility/conflict caused by the illusions he has when his memories clash with the truth. The story follows Lu Hsun, a young master who returns home to see his mother and nephew. He quickly remembers his youth, spent with his closest friend and servant, Jun-Tu. Lu Hsun reconciles with his family, including a neighbour, Mrs Yang. Unexpectedly, Jun Tu, cautious from his hard life at sea, pays a surprise visit to Lu Hsun's house. 

What happens when geography, time, and societal barriers prevent them from becoming friends? Throughout the story, the narrator recalls previous events in this house. Many things have changed and are not what the narrator anticipated when he returns as an adult. For example, when the narrator comes home, Jun-tu behaves as if the narrator is his master and has a higher status than him. The narrator's childhood home was a metaphor in this story. The house is a symbol because it symbolizes the narrator's "old" recollections. 

Since the family is departing, the narrator will be reminded of the memories associated with the home. The home represents growing up and moving on in life.The story teaches us the important message about moving on and leaving the past behind. The narrator, Hung-erh, and his mother are on the boat departing their home at the conclusion of the story. As he departed, he realized he was leaving behind memories and even his former house.