Sijie uses the symbol of the suitcase to express Luo’s and the narrator’s desire, yet previous inability to educate themselves. They constantly try to persuade Four Eyes to share the contents of his secret suitcase, but he always refuses, until Luo and the narrator decide to steal it themselves. This interaction with the suitcase represents Coming of Age because they yearn to take control of their education and future, but their plans are hindered by the Cultural Revolution. The narrator indulges in the book written by Balzac and falls in love with the idea of literature and storytelling. The suitcase full of books represents hidden treasure that brings them longing and desire, before turning into joy and fulfillment like treasure but was formerly unattainable.
“‘Are you weeping tears of joy?’ I said.
‘No, all I feel is loathing.’
‘Me too, loathing for everyone who kept these books from us’’” (99).
“We were beside ourselves. My head reeled, as if I’d had too much to drink. I took the novels out of the suitcase one by one, opened them, studied the portraits of the authors, and passed them on to Luo. Brushing them with the tips of my fingers made me feel as if my pale hands were in touch with human lives” (99).
If it were not for the Cultural Revolution, do you think that the narrator and Luo would have appreciated and loved these books so much? And great insight, by the way, about how this connects to coming of age, and growing up with longing to take control of their future.
ReplyDeletea) How can this suitcase connect to coming of age more?
ReplyDeleteb) This suitcase is a great example of how Luo and the narrator desire these books so much, but their greatest desires are always too far out of reach. The cultural revolution is holding them back from their greatest desires.