My old home

'My Old Home,' by Lu Xun, is an autobiographical novel about the author's identity, Lu Xun, himself is  the narrator, and his memories of his youth in his dazzling home. 

He can't express how much he enjoyed it or how happy he was to have grown up in his old home. The tension between recollections and realities is depicted in the story.

In 1911, his home was built in the time of the Qin Dynasty, the narrator returns to his Old Home after a twenty-year absence; at first, he cannot believe his eyes. 

His Old House, is now just a symbol, which depicts his past memories. 

His mother and nephew welcome him but he did not expected so many changes have occurred, but not in a great way; rather, he now finds his house in a destroyed state due to twenty years of weather, climate, renovations, and the presence of other families. 

Mrs Yang, a neighbor who accuses Lu Xun of being miserly, reconciles with his relatives and when the bean curd lady accuses Xun being stingy because he refuses to give away his furnishings, due to which he feels humiliated. 

As he confronts the realities of his situation, his preconceived notions clash.

His mother tells him that after you left, your childhood friend Runtu often used to come here to take your whereabouts? and tells him to meet him once since he was in town.

Narrator starts to think about the old days when they used to enjoy with eachother, all the flashbacks are coming to his mind and he again started missing his friend.

He began to remember the time spent with his friend living as brother, both used to gossip non stop, their understanding was mutual as they never had a fight with one another, they used to visit sea sides, their friendship was like a candy, they used to go to the field where watermelon plantation, their friendship was lively, upbeatable, and brotherly. 

They used to have lot of fun discussing about how to catch creatures like Badgers, Hedgehogs and Zha They were unconcerned about what was going on in the outer world.

But it's been 30 years that the narrator hasn't met Runtu and by this time Runtu had also become matured but he is going through his rough time as he has to pay tax and pay money to money.

He comes that Runtu, an old childhood friend, will be visiting Lu at his house He recalls his brief friendship with Runtu, a part-time laboring lad from his childhood. 

Time changes in 30 years and so the people, Runtu became much more mature as he experiences a rough life due to heavy taxes social responsibilities, famines, bandits, officials and landed gentry. 

He used to put his head down while walking even the landlord used to scold him and because of all this his living standard had gone down.

These factors have influenced Runtu's attitude towards the narrator. Runtu does not act like a friend towards Xun, but rather an inferior acquaintance since Lu Xun ranks higher than him in society.

When they both met for the first time, Runtu felt inner happiness and sad at the same time. He is trying to move his shivering lips but his voice did not appear.

The first thing Runtu says when he arrives is "Hello Master." This is when Lu discovers that Runtu was more of a servant than a friend; their friendship was mutual, but not in the sense Lu imagined.

Runtu behaves as if the narrator is his master and has a higher status than him.

Lu hopes his children don't come to realize the class differences in China and hopefully they won't' drift apart that affect their friendship.

Xun hopes that his nephew won't lose his friendship with Runtu’s son. He hoped that both of them will not suffer from social responsibilities like Runtu.

Later, the narrator and his mother gave all the old belongings to him as it was only lying inside their old home.

The story forwards a message that as one leaves one's destination for better opportunities and place, he/she recollects memories behind it. 

Xun highlights the importance of loyalty through the wary character of Runtu. 

A friendship won't last if one will only care about himself and his wealth. 

Their friendship changes because of the hardships they both went through. 

Society disapproves, and disallows them to be friends. 

As for them people from different classes cannot interact and develop mutual relations and they have to fulfil their roles in certain positions.