Saboteur by: Ha Jin, Outline Example

Setting:

Muji City

• Muji Train Station
• Muji Police Station

Characters:

Chiu Maguang

• thirty-four year old Chinese Male visiting Muji City for his honeymoon
• lecturer at Harbin University
• Communist Party Member

Mr. Chiu’s Bride

• Pale woman who wore glasses
• Graduate of fine arts
• New bride of Mr. Chiu

Chief Bureau

• Thin, bald man
• Serene and intelligent
• Confident about his leadership and does not care about whether or not his punishments are rightful or not so long as they create results.

Fenjin

• Graduate of the Harbin University Law Department
• Rescuer of Mr. Chiu
• Called the chief a “bandit” and was tied to a tree in jail for punishment and later on freed

Story’s Theme and Topic:

• Unlawful passing of law
• Realization of one person’s importance to another
• The idea of revenge against unlawful acts of officers in the authority

Author’s Perspective:

• People tend to act without thinking at times especially when they have the power to do so
• Revenge becomes a sweet escape when something unjust has been experienced by a person
• Being careful at what one does to make sure that the wrong things he do does not come back to him or to others he ought to take care of.