Does the Party succeed in reforming the intellectuals?

Course: Themes in Chinese Literature

Book: Yang Jiang, Baptism. Hong Kong University Press, 2007 (ISBN: 9789622098312)

Write a paper (double-spaced) on following topic:
A Language, Public Speaking and Truth in “New China”
In Part 1 Chapter 5 of Baptism the narrator states, “There is an old Chinese saying, ‘You are how write.’ Once, people would judge you by your calligraphy. In New China, the equivalent is public speaking. When you give a speech, those who listen decide what you are worth.” ( Page 27). In Baptism who judges the intellectuals’ self-criticisms during the Thought-Reform Campaign? What do the scholars have to do in order to produce a “good” public speech? Does it have to be truthful? If truthfulness is not necessarily the aim of the Thought-Reform Campaign, what is its aim? Does the campaign achieve its goal? Does the Party succeed in reforming the intellectuals? How do the characters change the way they speak throughout the novel?
Formulate a cohesive argument; do not attempt to answer all of the questions in the prompt.
Please write an essay. I will provide the instruction file.