When You Don't Belong to Yourself

Mo Yan, the recent Nobel Prize Literature Winner from China, was blamed for defending Chinese media censorship during the Q&A session after his speech at Stockholm University. I didn't watch the live, but read the news from internet. Most critics focused on his response to a question about Chinese government putting some writers behind bars. To me, his answer barely defended Chinese government, but was try to avoid answering this question: he mentioned that writers can commit crimes such as theft and burglary, and therefore it shouldn't be surprising to have writers in prison, which obviously wandered off what the question was about. Mo Yan was not further challenged on the same subject at Stockholm University, but described not only as a coward who was afraid to confront the notorious media censorship, but a sycophant to Beijing.

If you've ever read Mo Yan's books, he is not a communist sycophant for sure, otherwise his books would never be rewarded from Nobel Committee. Mo Yan has kept a good balance between criticizing communist history and complimenting the government, which offers him the opportunity of publishing his satires as well as enjoying a decent life in China. He probably would lead this peaceful life until he dies hadn't he accepted the Nobel Prize this fall. As the first Chinese Nobel Prize Winner who also receives official congratulations from Chinese government, Mo Yan is no longer allowed - by either the government or the public - to keep his attitudes towards Chinese government and the CCP ambiguous. The government, who was furious at the Nobel Committee's decision to award dissidents such as Dalai Lama and Liu Xiaobo, wouldn't allow Mo Yan to act as an anti-government activist and speak against the government. The public (I'm talking about Weibo users here), with strong sympathy for dissidents and inspired by Mo Yan's books, would love to see Mo Yan expressing his dissatisfaction (in books) in the real world. In other words, Mo Yan has to make a choice to please either his bosses or his readers.

Mo Yan is a very thoughtful guy. But no matter how thoughtful he is, when he no longer belongs to himself, he can't express his thoughts freely. That's why we heard the ridiculous answer during his visit to Stockholm University. Some people, at least the one who asked him that question, were hoping that Mo Yan could be another Liu Xiaobo who can use his prestige and influence as a Nobel Prize Winner to fight against the censorship in China. Sure Mo Yan could choose to cater these audiences and condemned Chinese government on its inhumanity, which would cost his career, family and probably freedom. But Mo Yan made it very clear in his answer that he is not a dissident, and he has no intention to confront Chinese government. He's just a writer, and his job is to tell stories.

We live in societies. In social networks, people have different expectations for us, which may not always be consistent with our own plans. Especially when you become a public figure, for most of your life, you don't belong to yourself, but to the public, who has developed certain expectations for you. Then it will be very courageous for you to deviate from their expectations and lead your own life. As a writer, Mo Yan has achieved great success in his career. But as a person, he loses the freedom and privacy. If he asks for the freedom to choose his life, we shouldn't deny it; at least we shouldn't take it for granted that he will sacrifice his life for us.