Several Blessings

The setting of The Several Blessings of Wang Ta-nien is important to the author and the story, because it takes place during a time of persecution. The story takes place at a time when China's communist government has taken control of Taiwan, and the characters in the story are waiting for the Nationalist party to return to power. The author of the story's father was an official in the chinese government, who was executed when the Communist party took over China. This is important because her background with the takeover gave her a personal connection with the characters in the story who are waiting for the invading government to be removed from their homeland. They wait for the return of their own government and a return of their way of life.