Sijie uses the symbol of the coal mine to imply the message of hope and to convey the attitudes of the people during the Cultural Revolution. The coal mine is often dark and light (hope of escape) is faltering, which represents the flickering hope in the hearts of the youth. They know they are doomed to a harsh life in reeducation, but they cannot help but seek hope whenever they can.
"A pinprick of light quivered in the darkness at the end of a long subterranean passage. The tiny bright dot wavered, fell, rose again, and continued its precarious advance. Now and then, when there was a dip in the floor, the dot disappeared for seconds at a time."
"To tell the truth, we accepted this infernal ordeal, because we were determined to stay in the race at all costs, even though our chances of returning to the city were no more than the infinitesimal three in a thousand."
I definitely agree with what the coal mine represents. I also really like you choice of quotes.
ReplyDeletea. If the coal mine represents hope itself, would that imply that all antagonizers resemble hope?
ReplyDeleteb. This resembles coming of age because the boys live through their hardships and become stronger with hope.
I really like the way you compared the coal mine to their hope running out, and how it shows that they realized as they got older, they would have fewer opportunities to achieve the things they really wanted to. One question I would ask is how long will the light of hope stay, and how could they increase its longevity?
ReplyDeleteThe title is very creative, and you chose great supporting quotes for your thesis. Could the mine also symbolize the vast darkness of the Cultural Revolution?
ReplyDeleteClever title! Strong analysis - well done!
ReplyDeleteI really like this connection, and how you gave textual examples to feed your thesis. Is it possible that the mine might represent the fear of the change the reeducation might cause for the narrator and Luo?
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis and I think that the fact the boys keep going into the coal mine shows how strong of a desire they have to eventually get back to the city.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the description of the coal mine's symbolism. The dark environment ties to the lack of hope that Luo and the narrator have of one day escaping.
ReplyDeleteThe title is really great.
Do you think that the cultural revolution has a true light at the end of the tunnel for the re-educated?
ReplyDeleteThis type of symbolism is very similar to that of the raven, since that symbol also uses the ravens' actions to say something about the more general situations of the characters.