The Questions of Hu In 1989, Jonathan D. Spence published a historical novel entitled The Question of Hu. Spence includes a great deal of historical context while telling the story of Jesuit Jean-Frangois Foucquet. Foucquet has set out to prove that Chinese religious texts were given to the Chinese by the Christian God. To accomplish this task, he needs a Chinese person to help copy some of these texts and encounters a willing Chinese Catholic man by the name of John Hu. Foucquet takes Hu to France with him, and in France, Hu experiences a great deal of culture shock and oppression because of his social status. Hu is mischievous and exploratory in this new culture, which causes the Europeans to question his sanity. Throughout Foucquet and Hu s experiences, Spence leaves the reader with issues of insanity, control, and class to think about. Jonathan Spence provokes various questions in The Question of Hu. Hu s original question is Why have I been locked up? , however, this question points to that of defining insanity. Was Hu clinically insane, or did Foucquet have another reason for keeping Hu incarcerated? Spence provides evidence for either side of the argument. Many of Hu s actions were very rash and the European society did not receive them well. "Hu stole a horse today. Or borrowed, according to your point of view...The man [the owner of the horse] tethered his house and went off on his business in the household. Hurrying down stairs, Hu untied the horse, climbed on its back, and was off, around the town...Scolded, Hu is not contrite. He asks Foucquet why, if a horse is being left unused, may someone else not use it?" Also, after Hu was in the asylum One of the staff at Charenton gives him a warm blanket, of good quality, to ward away the night cold. Hu tears the blanket to shreds. Some of Hu s actions were a menace to society, however, they were more of a menace to Foucquet. Being visitor from China, Hu had many traditions and...
