Sparrow always numbers rather than names his works. Why would Sparrow do this? Why are numbers so important to Sparrow?

How do prescribed gender roles affect the lives of Zhuli, Sparrow, and Jiang Kai? What privileges do Sparrow and Jiang Kai have that Zhuli cannot benefit from?

The novel focuses on seeing and not being seen: Think of the importance of Comrade Glass Eye and Jian, the terrible result of Zhuli being seen in her family’s library, and Ai-Ming’s struggle to become invisible. What is the power and cost of seeing? Of being unseen?