Cart
1. What are some of the ways the Jews in Shanghai survive psychologically and maintain their dignity? Is humor one of their coping devices?
2. How do the Japanese and Chinese regard the Jews?
3. There is plenty of evidence for the "Law of Universal Disgustingness" in Farewell, Shanghai, but there are also numerous acts of unexpected kindness, generosity, and courage that undermine that law. Does the book give you hope despite its sometimes pessimistic tone?
4. Some of the more fragile characters survive while some of the strongest and most resilient break down. Why do you think this happens? Did the suicides come as a shock?
5. How does Farewell, Shanghai expose the "myth of Jewish solidarity"? Do you believe that Hitler and the Holocaust united Jews from around the world?
6. The narrator expresses cynicism about the leaders of governments in general. Does this seem accurate?
7. Farewell, Shanghai raises the question of whether Roosevelt knew in advance about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Do you think this may have been true? If it was, how do you understand his motivation for not acting on it?
8. Personal friendship overrides national and political allegiance in some cases in Farewell, Shanghai. What are the examples of this? In what sense do you find these ethical or understandable? In what sense do you find them objectionable?
9. What role does music play in Farewell, Shanghai?
10. Does the context of war create a moral ambiguity that produces some surprising actions, with decent people being forced to act against some of their principles while their cruel enemies sometimes act humanely? What seems to be the author’s attitude toward the moral challenges of war?