"I rubbed the nail against a rock until it became too hot to handle, after which I wiped it on my mud-encrusted trousers, and polished it vigorously until the metal shone like new. When I held it up for inspection it sparkled so brightly I thought I could see my eyes and the late summer sky reflected in it" (91).
"Luo took the rusty nail now transformed into a master-key and moistened it between his lips. The key slid noiselessly into place, turned to the left, then the right, left again and a fraction the other way... there was a dry metallic click, and the copper padlock yielded at last" (98).
KEY ANALYSIS: This quote represents the “key” to the boy’s intellectual liberty, because Luo and the Narrator are creating this key as path to getting their desired books. Their key, which unlocks the padlock, represents the nation’s close mindedness and restrictions of foreign literature, and so by unlocking Four Eye’s door (the symbol of forbidden literature), they are opening themselves up to gain unlimited access to all of these Western classics. In the boy's eyes, when the key “sparkled so brightly,” it corresponds to how they view these Western books; a beacon of light for freedom.
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"'What is it with you two, always going for stuff that's forbidden?'
'Don't exaggerate,' Luo said.
'You think I'm exaggerating? You want me to show this to the commune authorities? Your old miller would be accused of spreading erotic material. He might even go to prison. I'm serious'" (77).
“‘How could you waste all that precious time writing down this drivel? I can’t believe it. Do you seriously think an official journal would even consider publishing this shit? That they’d give me a job on the strength of this? You must be out of your minds’” (77).
FOLK SONG ANALYSIS: These two quotes summarize Four Eye’s lack of intellectual liberty, as he feels that the Old man’s folk song is essentially garbage, and forbidden. His fear of publishing this song reveals the little range of freedom he believes he has. This lack of intellectual freedom is a response to the Old man’s authentic, playful mountain song, which is a symbol of freedom of expression. The “forbidden” aspect that Four Eyes is talking about correlates to China at the time, and how they felt about songs in general. Songs symbolize expression and emotion, and aren’t always used for propaganda purposes, like Four Eyes hoped. This song in particular, expressed humor, innocence, and the open essence of country life, and Four Eye’s backlash to the old man’s song shows the intolerance of intellectual freedom present in China at the time.
I loved the comparison between the padlock and the "nation's close mindedness." I had never thought about the key in that sense, and I think that it's really interesting to see you guys use the key as a symbol for intellectual liberty.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about the key that way. Do you think that the author chose to include this to show that Mao didn't have power over everyone? I think the key also symbolizes the growing up because they are taking matters into their own hands.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really interesting how you thought of the key to the padlock as the key to intellectual liberty. Do you think this is a symbol that the author meant to create?
ReplyDeleteI love the connection between the key and the metaphor "the key to success." It really brings a new perspective to this scene.
ReplyDeleteI actually disagree. I think that the moment Four- Eyes sees the songs written down he feels he has the freedom to change them. The fact that the moment Four- Eyes gets this job, he feels entitled and feels he has more liberty.
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ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the key being the "key" to their liberation. I had never really thought about it in that perspective, and I think it is a great metaphor to completely capture the undercover message. How do you think the boys' lives could have different if they never found these books or if they found them sooner?
ReplyDeleteThe idea that the key has opened the door to intellectual liberty is a really insightful analysis. I never would have thought that the master key would be a parallel to the key to intellectual liberty. Great analysis!
ReplyDeleteThe idea that the key has opened the door to intellectual liberty is a really insightful analysis. I never would have thought that the master key would be a parallel to the key to intellectual liberty. Great analysis!
ReplyDeleteNice job relating the narrator and lou getting inside the house to them having to fight for their intellectual liberty!
ReplyDeleteIn your "Key Analysis" I love how the you compared the phrase "sparked so brightly" to freedom and the freedom that those books brought Luo and the narrator. Overall it was a really great analysis.
ReplyDeleteI like how you used the key to represent the boy's intellectual liberty.
ReplyDeleteIn your "Key Analysis" I love how the you compared the phrase "sparked so brightly" to freedom and the freedom that those books brought Luo and the narrator. Overall it was a really great analysis.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you compared the key to intellectual liberty. I never actually thought about how the key might symbolize something, but this idea is very interesting. Do you think that this freedom that the narrator and Luo has "gotten" might actually hurt them later on?
ReplyDeleteI think it's very interesting that the old miller is willing to have intellectual liberty in this way and yet still respects Chairman Mao and the cultural revolution. When the boys come to talk to him claiming to be officials, he lets them in either out of fear or a love for what they are doing. Why do you think the peasants who have lived with this intellectual liberty until now were so willing to reeducate the teenagers and change their entire lifestyle?
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of how the folk song represents freedom of expression and great intellectual liberty. I love connection between Four Eyes feeling that he has very little intellectual liberty and the strict choice of his song. How do you think Four Eyes will feel when he finds out that his books are missing?
ReplyDeleteI like how you tied together the song with China's intolerance of intellectual freedom. I thought it was an interesting contrast and a different outlook on the song.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you chose to portray the key as a key they use to open up and enlarge their intellectual knowledge, as they open Four-Eye's door that holds the forbidden books. Also, your title gave a good insight. Do you think the author meant to portray it this way in such a metaphor?
ReplyDeleteI liked how the title related to the quote and motif analysis and how you repeatedly used keyword analysis to further understand the meaning.
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