Dissecting Loss
Violin
"'It's a toy,' said the headman solemnly.
This verdict left us speechless. Luo and I exchanged furtive, anxious glances. Things were not looking good" (4).
"All music by Mozart or indeed by any other Western composer had been banned years ago. In my sodden shoes my feet turned to ice. I shivered as the cold tightened its grip on me" (5).
Alarm Clock
"Throughout the years of our re-education the house on stilts remained almost entirely unfurnished. There was not even a table or chair...Nonetheless, our home soon became the focal point of the village, thanks to another phoenix, a smaller version, miniature almost, and rather more earthbound, whose master was my friend Luo" (13).
"It was a tiny clock, and it was no doubt thanks to its size that it had escaped the notice of the village headman when we arrived. It fitted in the palm of your hand, and tinkled prettily when the alarm went off" (13-14).
Sijie uses the symbols of the violin and the alarm clock to illustrate the idea of loss in the book, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. During the story, it is evident to the reader that Luo and the narrator have very few personal items to remind them of home. Because of the Cultural Revolution, most of their belongings have been confiscated because they are labeled as "Reactionary Items". The violin represents their old life in the city and the luxuries they were fortunate enough to have before they were all ripped from their grasp. In the new town they are living in, Luo and the narrator have close to nothing to furnish their make-shift home. The alarm clock acts as a similar symbol to the violin in the way that it is the one item that connects this new lifestyle to their old home. Although these objects are not physically lost, both items are used to remind the main characters of what they have lost.
Do the narrator and Luo truly long for home or knowledge? I see a connection between the the items and the cultural revolution.
ReplyDeleteThe connection between these items and loss is interesting, I didn't really think about it before. Could the clock maybe represent the brutality of re-education as well?
ReplyDeleteI like how you thought of the clock and the violin as a reminder instead of just items they had brought from home. Loss was a category I hadn't really thought about that much, but this shows the idea of loss in the story.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you use loss to connect these items, that was not an apparent connection to me. Thinking about it though it makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI like how you thought of the clock and the violin as a reminder instead of just items they had brought from home. Loss was a category I hadn't really thought about that much, but this shows the idea of loss in the story.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that it is possible that the alarm clock is more than just a reminder of home? What power does it give Luo and the narrator over the village?
ReplyDeleteThis connects to the cultural revolution by showing its affects on people, and how it amplifies simple everyday objects into memories and value.
I thought that this was an interesting connection to make and I really do see how the symbolism between the two objects are related. However, I think that both items also represent how the two main characters hold superiority over the peasants in some sense due to their ability to control the time of day and the influence the song "Mozart is Thinking Of Chairman Mao" has over the people.
ReplyDeleteYour connections to loss are very unique- I like how you used these two objects in order to translate their loss into something that is more tangible.
ReplyDeleteWhat specific ways do the alarm clock and violin connect to their old life? Very nice analysis though!
ReplyDeleteWhat specific ways do the alarm clock and violin connect to their old life? Very nice analysis though!
ReplyDeleteI never thought about the clock being a symbol of loss! Interesting connection!
ReplyDeleteI think that you showed a good connection with the relationship between the main characters and these items with the Violin as memories of home.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great connection between the clock and their home life and the violin and their violence. I wonder to what extent do the keys represent a connection between their home life?
ReplyDeleteIt's very true that the objects represent memories of home in their new and dreary living quarters. I wonder if they find comfort in any other objects they brought?
ReplyDelete