In Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, the rooster alarm clock housed by Luo and the narrator is a symbol of power, hope, and rebellion. The rooster inside of the clock symbolizes the Sun God, when they turn the hands of the clock, it represents them having almost the same amount of power as a God, with even the headman of their village coveting this tiny clock. The author states, "Everyone came to consult the clock, as though our house on stilts were a temple" (14). From this, we can infer that this tiny, intimate object is the only symbol of power and control over their own life that the boys have.
Serena G, Cooper J, Jake H, Hanna K
The connection with the whole Sun God idea was really cool. I think that the hope aspect of this comes from how they see this power as the means by which they will eventually escape the re-education program; it gives them hope for a future wherein their lives are back into their control, just as the clock gives them a small measure of control in their new lives.
ReplyDeleteThe clock can also be seen as a symbol of hope by Luo and the narrator. How did you get to the conclusion that the rooster represents the Sun God?
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