A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li [Part 1] (Detailed commentary and analysis)

Detailed commentary and analysis by Claire's Notes of 'A Thousand Years of Good Prayers' by Yiyun Li
Cambridge iGCSE: Stories of Ourselves

Mr Shi, a retired Chinese rocket scientist, has come to pay an extended visit with his daughter in a town in the American Mid-West. By day, he spends his time in the nearby park, talking to 'Madam', an elderly Iranian lady he has befriended, even though they both speak little English. By night, he cooks traditional Chinese meals for his newly-divorced daughter and encourages her to speak about her life. The more he talks, however, the less she responds and she goes out of her way to avoid him.

As the story progresses, Mr Shi's daughter begins to broach the topic of his own silence and lack of communication when she was growing up. Mr Shi confides in Madam that he wishes he and his daughter had a better relationship but that what she doesn't understand is that the highly confidential nature of his job did not allow him to speak of it.

'A Thousand Years of Good Prayers' is a story exploring the linguistic, cultural and emotional barriers that lead to inter-generational conflict and fractured relationships. Will Mr Shi and his daughter ever be able to bridge the yawning emotional chasm between them?

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Please note that any literature analysis is highly subjective and may disagree with analysis by another person. All interpretations are valid if they can be justified by reference to the text. This interpretation is my own: it is not exhaustive and there are alternatives!

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