There can be arguments made both for and against John Hu, a central character in "The Question of Hu," being crazy. In order to come to a conclusion on his mental status, a characterization of Hu must be derived. Hu was a lover of books who did not speak any French, yet traveled from China to France with a Jesuit and printer named Foucquet. Hu wanted to learn as much as possible about the unknown life in Europe and then use his knowledge and research to return home and write a book. While in France, Hu tried to survive by eating foraged food and overs that had been disposed. He spent time with those who were poor and unemployed. By today's standards, it could be argued that Hu was crazy.
Using this same information, it could also be argued that he was ahead of the times, a genius, or even an environmentalist or sociologist. Many people today in places such as San Francisco dumpster dive or forage for food, and even eat at restaurants serving this type of food. Hu was also expanding on his experiences by living in ways he had not before and by spending time learning about different types of people.
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