Summary Of The Little Red Book 'Red Azalea'

In Red Azalea, Anchee Min uses the symbol of the Little Red Book to demonstrate the chilling level of control indoctrination imposes onto the Chinese people during Mao’s rule. All throughout Maoist China, everyone studied the Little Red Book. It was a book that was filled with Mao’s quotations. The Little Red Book symbolizes the societal worship of Mao in China at the time. The Little Red Book is both a product of this worship and a symbol of it. Everyone was expected to know these quotations, as that was a trait of an ideal person in Maoist society. According to Anchee Min, many would study these quotations religiously, as seen when Little Coffin invited Anchee Min to a Mao quotation study seminar. In addition to this, to gain status in society,