Summary of the Story "My Old Home"
Full Summary
The story "My Old Home" by Lu Xun is a heartfelt and reflective narrative that explores the poignant conflict between cherished memories and harsh realities. After twenty years away, Lu Xun embarks on a long journey back to his childhood home, only to find that the beautiful, vibrant place etched in his memory has transformed into a dull, lifeless stretch under a gray sky. This stark change makes him realize how memories can be deceptive, painted with the colors of youth and emotion, while reality often presents a more somber picture.
Upon his arrival, Lu Xun is warmly greeted by his mother and his eight-year-old nephew, Hong’er. Though happy to see him, his mother is also preparing to leave their old home, having sold most of the household furniture and planning a move to a new place near where Lu Xun now works. This impending departure symbolizes a final farewell not only to the physical home but to the past itself. His purpose for returning is practical—selling the family home—yet the emotional weight of changing times presses heavily on him.
One of the most poignant moments comes when Lu Xun visits his childhood friend Runtu after many years. Though he remembers Runtu as a lively boy, the man he meets is physically aged, with a pale, wrinkled face and weariness borne of a difficult life. When Runtu addresses Lu Xun as “Master,” it underscores the sharp social divisions of that era, a painful reminder of poverty and status that had driven a wedge between them. Runtu’s hardships—from bad harvests and famine to oppressive taxes and social responsibilities—reflect the harsh economic realities faced by many, revealing the struggles behind the faded memories.
Throughout the visit, a bittersweet atmosphere pervades as Lu Xun recalls youthful adventures with Runtu, now replaced by the cruel realities of growing older and the burdens of poverty. Showing kindness despite these differences, Lu Xun offers Runtu the household items his mother has decided to give away, symbolizing a gesture of compassion and connection amidst change.
As Lu Xun, his mother, and nephew leave the village by boat, the story closes on a note of nostalgia mingled with sadness and acceptance. The narrator reflects on the irreversible passage of time and the inevitable changes it brings, realizing that while physical places may change or disappear, the memories and emotions they evoke remain forever in the heart. This story beautifully captures the universal themes of loss, change, friendship, social disparity, and the bittersweet nature of reconnecting with a past that can never be fully recaptured.
"My Old Home" is a tender exploration of how time and reality reshape our perceptions and the profound human feelings tied to home and memory.