- Leiyin’s three souls manifest
three very distinct and different
personalities. What do you think
the souls represent, individually
and collectively? What do you
think their role is in the story?
- Pre–World War II China was
a time of great turmoil. What
details and descriptions of
ordinary life does the author use
to evoke the social and political
transitions taking place?
- Think about the conflicts that
women of Leiyin’s generation
experienced during this time of
transition. How are they similar
to the experiences of immigrant
women today? How are they
- Three Souls makes a strong
statement about how women
were treated in Chinese society.
Of all the examples showing how
women were oppressed, which
affected you the most, and why?
- What new information did you
learn about Chinese history,
society, or family dynamics? Were
there any passages or scenes in the
novel that you felt gave you fresh
insights into that time and place?
- In Leiyin’s memories of her times
with Hanchin, what tips us off
that he is just toying with her?
Discuss what Leiyin doesn’t see or
won’t acknowledge that she sees.
- Throughout Part One, Leiyin is
warned repeatedly to obey her
father. What do we know about
her father that might cause her to
believe he will eventually give in
to her or at least forgive her?
- Many readers consider
Stepmother the most interesting
secondary character of the novel.
Do you agree? What makes her
so memorable and admirable—
especially given the constraints
of the era and her status in the
- The female characters are not
the only ones whose lives are
constrained. Discuss how some
of the male characters are also
trapped by tradition.
- In many ways this is a coming-of-
age story—in which the final
coming of age happens after the
protagonist dies. In each of the
three parts of the novel, how does
Leiyin grow and mature? What
does she learn about herself or
the way the world works?
- At the end of the novel, do you
think Leiyin will succeed in
ascending to the afterlife? Why
or why not? Do you find the
- Consider the structure of the
novel. The author changes
between past tense and present
tense. Do you feel this is
confusing or effective?