Monday, October 7, 2019
Dreams of a Suitcase or Dreams in a Suitcase?
I feel that the suitcase symbol represents many things, the most important one being the temptation to take risks. One example of hope tieing into the suitcase can be seen when the seamstress is with Luo and the narrator and poses the question, "What if we stole them(the books)".(89) This represents risks because it shows the length that the characters are willing to go in the hopes of finding something to entertain them. Breaking into someone's house is by no means a minor offense, but the characters are willing to do it because they aspire to find something to quench their thirst for knowledge and suppress the boredom of their lives. Another quote that contributes to the idea that the suitcase represents risks is when the narrator is contemplating whether he should write the contents of one of the books on his sheepskin coat, The narrator exclaims, " Writing on the skin of an old mountain sheep was not easy: the surface was rough and creased and, in order to squeeze as much text as possible into the available space..."(59) This represents risks because the narrator is choosing to enlarge the chance of him being caught with western literature, despite the fact that he could be punished. He does this simply because of the sheer love he as for the books. Sijie most definitely uses the symbol of the suitcase to hint towards the temptations of risks that are waiting to be taken. On a limb, I feel that the risk aspect can somewhat connect to that of hope, The characters are constantly taking risks with these books and the suitcase itself because they see the contents as hope for a brighter, more accepting future, much like the ones that they read about. This symbol might connect to the movie watching because both things contain wester influences that stress freedom.
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This an interesting idea-Does the suitcase cause risk or is it just a metaphor? Are there any textual examples of this?
ReplyDeleteThis is a good analogy. Although, I don't think 'boredom' was a big influencer in the decision to steal the suitcase. I think that they stole it due to personal reasons. They wanted to use it to become better people and see the work outside. Temptation, which was extremely prevalent, was a good idea. I don't think they were tempted to take risks, but rather they were tempted to get stuff that could better themselves and their lives.
ReplyDeleteTo clarify, do you mean that the suitcase represents or foreshadows risk? I think this also connects to loss, as the characters have lost their ability and freedom to read whatever they want. Because of that, they may have turned to desperation and done these risky acts.
ReplyDeleteHow else did the Western Culture influence?
ReplyDeleteThis showed that most characters of the story wanted to obtain knowledge they previously never had, they were willing to give up a lot to get what they wanted.
Do you think that the characters taking risks in order to read the books could also connect to intellectual liberty? I see how the characters are attempting to defy the oppressive system of Maoism by stealing the books as a way to gain knowledge that was prohibited to them. Perhaps this could also tie to power as they deliberately defy the system to take intellectual liberty for themselves.
ReplyDeleteDoes the suitcase represent risk, or is it more so the books themselves?
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a great idea to connect the ideas of the suitcase and risk. It seems as though the suitcase and the books may have similar ideas, as they both seem to drive Luo and the narrator. With this risk it seems it could be connected for the characters searching and longing for intellectual liberty.
Do you think that desperation could also tie into hope and risk taking in this situation? Based on your writing, the suitcase clearly connects to hope out of the focus topics. Connecting hope to risk taking was a really clever idea and fits this symbol perfectly as the suitcase not only provides the boys with something to look for, but also increases their chances of getting in trouble.
ReplyDeleteCould it be that the little seamstress was the one who implied with the idea, because she was the one who wanted the book more than them?
ReplyDeleteI do see the connection with the suitcase and risk, but I think there could be more than just risk.
I see a connection to intellectual liberty- being exposed to new ideas that we see through the books is really what keeps the characters going
ReplyDeleteSo there isn't just a tie with the concept of hope, but also with the concept of intellectual liberty.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting idea. Do you think that their attitudes toward all of this literature would have been different if it had been more accessible to them? Was the mystery part of the allure?
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea that the suitcase represents a sense of hope to the main characters. But you mention the "sheer love" the narrator has for the books; do you believe there is a limit on that love due to the fact that Luo and the narrator end up burning the books?
ReplyDeleteDo you think that the Little Seamstress had other reasons why she wanted to steal the book? She could have possibly wanted to learn more about the world because of the sheltered life she lived. I also feel like the suitcase of books can be representing jealousy, because Four-Eyes had the privilege of leaving the mountains, and he had access to books that were forbidden.
ReplyDeleteThere are many topics that this object could represent, hope, intellectual liberty, risk, and more. They could feel hopeful to get their hands on possessions from the western world. Or, they could be trying to escape their world through books, because their intellectual liberty is being restrained. It also certainly relates to risk, the characters take the risk to get the suitcase. Good topic.
ReplyDelete