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23 comments:
Shayna Sage
E Block
1/4 entry
On page fifty seven of BATLCS, the unnamed narrator describes Balzac, the book within the book, as "awakening desire, passion, impulsive action, love, all the subjects that had, until then, been hidden." This quote stuck out because it brought personality and life to the annoynamous narator. Normally, people who read a book, read it and are done with it. But in this book, it is illegal for them to have intellectual thoughts, or anything that requires a lot of thought processing, something people take advantage of. It shows, that the characters in this novel value little things like books and the violin at the beginning of the book.
On page 10 the main character talks about how he and his best friend Lao were watching, in the large crowd, Luo's father getting punished (and humiliated)because of a crime he committed (which was being a reactionary). The quote that surprised me was, "At that moment, without saying a word, Lao punched me." This stood out to me because Luo took his anger and humiliation out on his best friend, not the people that were humiliating him and his father. It also shows that Luo is distressed about his problems and is unsure how to deal with his emotions.
Shayna Sage
E Block
2/4 entry
On page 160 of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, the author, Dai Sijie writes “Every nook and cranny of the land came under the all-seeing eye of the dictatorship of the proletariat, which had cast its gigantic, fine-meshed net over the whole of China.” In this quotation, Dai Sijie is describing the political situation in China in the 1970'sish time period. During this time period in the book, the two main characters are sent to Pheonix mountain to become reformed since they were found guilty of being intellectuals since both their fathers were doctors. This kind of reminds me of 1984 because they both deal with subjugating the minds of the citizens in order to gain control.
Ellie Wood
E Block
1/4 entry
On page twenty one the narrator explains the idea that Luo and himself will be sent to watch a film every month for the villagers as a "welcome change." The two friends are in a situation where any change would be welcomed with open arms. They have been taken away from their families and stuck in a strange and unfamiliar village and way of life. At this point in the story, the main characters are more for change than against it.
Ellie Wood
E Block
2/4 entry
On page thirty six the narrator responds to the Little Seamstress's question about believing in things that you can't explain. His response, "sometimes I do,sometimes I don't," exemplifies his ever changing mood, situation, and location. So far in the book the reader has been told that the narrator has moved around china a lot (from the city to the mountains), been both happy (as a child) and depressed (in the coal mine), and been portrayed as beloved (to the villagers) as well a worker (in the mines). His life is constantly changing. He therefore does not always consistently believe in one thing or have the same opinion about it all the time.
Shayna Sage
E Block
3/4 entry
On page 88, the narrator says, "I am grieving for Balzac," this quote really stood out to me for some reason. As I was reading this, I got chills because it was the first time that I had ever heard anyone say that they were grieving about the loss of a book. This truly shows that Americans and people around the world take books and knowledge for granted now more than ever because we have the kind of freedom that Luo and his friend could not even fathom. In reality, we should not take advantage of books because we never now if history will repeat itself, although in this day and age it is not likely to happen.
Shayna Sage
E Block
4/4 entry
"I'm in trouble." said the Little Seamstress." As I read this line, on page 158 I immediatly turned on my computer and decided to make a prediction about what is going to come. The Little Seamstress is either pregnant or in some sort of legal discrepancy involving the party and Luo and the main character. Although I am quite certain that it's the first because early in the book Luo talks about his sexual encounters with the seamstress. I can tell that throughout the book the main character is outwardly jealous of his friend and wishes that he was in luo's position.
Ellie Wood
E Block
3/4 entry
On page eighty nine the little seamstress suggestes and idea: what if they "stole" the suitcase of books from four eyes? The glimpse of western literature that four eyes provided for them has gotten them so hooked that they are willing to resort to theft. These three characters are so intriged by the words of Balzac that they will do anything to be able to read more. In the end they end up going to much trouble to make a key and plan to steel the suitcase of books from four eyes before he leaves. This exemplifies the outstanding affect that his western books have had on Luo, the little seamstress, and the narrator.
Ellie Wood
E Block
4/4 entry The little seamstress was so affected by the words of western books that she decided to change her entire life style. On page 179 the narrator describes her "new hairstyle" and all around "[unfamiliar]" dress. Because the little seamstress was introduced to western culture, her life was changed forever. She decided to move to the city. This left behind her father, her boyfriend, her friends, her life, and more. If introducted to a new and strange culture would someone else have reacted the same rash way that she did? Or, is it the lure of western lifestyle amenities that brought her to change her life so drastically?
Blair Borden
E Block
1/4 Entry
The boys' journey starts off on page fourteen with the narrator expressing that “neither Luo or I could muster any enthusiasm for the work we were forced to do in the mountains…the human body represented the sole means of transport.” It is apparent that the boys are not used to change in their lives. Before, they had little work to perform and their biggest concern was to learn in school. Now they must work in coalmines, without the leisure of their parents working for them. Also, the fact that the main problem with change is that now they must walk everywhere, shows that these characters are very lazy and took for granted the privileged lives they once had back at home.
Blair Borden
E Block
2/4 Entry
On page sixty-two, the Little Seamstress is wearing the sheepskin coat and explains “having the Balzac’s words next to her skin made her feel good, and also more intelligent.” This shows that the people in this Chinese culture value intellect. If it makes someone feel good to be intelligent, the Little Seamstress must think very highly of these two people and will want to continue to hear their stories in order to gain more intelligence. In fact, she might feel a bit of jealousy that the narrator and Luo are highly educated and literate people. The Seamstress should maintain a good relationship with these boys in order for her to feel good about herself and to reassure her that there is more to life than sowing clothing.
Blair Borden
E Block
3/4 Entry
In response to Ellie’s comment earlier about page 179, I think that the Chinese Seamstress was drawn to the Western way of life and that more people would respond in the same way if they were given the opportunity. Throughout the entire book, the two boys and the seamstress are amazed and overjoyed from the Western literature that they discovered. In such a rural living area, the books and stories were the only amount of amusement in their lives. It allowed them to escape the hard work and become smarter individuals. If anyone else was put into this position to permanently move their life into a place where the book was a reality, in my opinion they would defiantly choose to do so.
Blair Borden
E Block
4/4 Entry
On page fifty-eight the narrator has some time to be alone. He expresses that “usually I took advantage of the calm reigning on the mountain at this hour practise my violin, but now it seemed a depressing thing to do.” This shows that being away from home and changing your lifestyle can alter your main priorities and goals in life. In his new living place he has to worry about his survival and work, rather than spend their time on a hobby. The narrator has new values and will continue to transform the main focuses of his life throughout the entire book. This is a great example of how where you live and the influences on you will change your views in life. This happens with the Seamstress and the Western culture too.
Avital Tsivkin
D block
1/4 entry
what do the characters in your novel value?
On page 56 of Balzac, the narrator and Luo, his best friend, have just recieved a forbidden book with the authoro Balzac. "The ponderousness of the two syllables as well as the belligerent , somewhat old-fashioned ring of the name were quite gone, now that the four characters -very elegant-each composed of just a few strokes- banded together to create an unusual beauty redolent with an exotic fragrance as sensual as the perfume wreathing a wine stored for centuries in a cellar." This passion about a single book tells us a lot about the narrator, Luo and their culture. Books are forbid as are any intellectual thoughts. For thier culture, its all about physical work and the structure of their community and village.
Avital Tsivkin
D Block
2/4 entry
On page 121, the little seamstress's father had arived in the narrators and Lou's village. "At all events of villagers, to whom his arrival signalled happy times, were delighted to see the sinewy little man show up with his sparkling sewing machine, just a few weeks before the new year."
This passage is telling us that modern technology is a very rare thing in their village, and as discribed in the beggining of the book (pg 22)"The tailor owned two sewing machines. the first, which he took with him from one village to the next, was old: the brand name of the manufacturer was no longer legible." This really amplifies how poor the village is, but how open and happy they are about this technology from the western culture.
Avital Tsivkin
D Block
3/4 entry
3. How do the characters in your novel deal with change?
On page fifty one, the narrator says "We had been so unlucky. By the time we had finally learnt to read properly, there had been nothing left for us to read... This shows us that the narrator doesn't like the changes the government had made, and are upset because they have learned how to read and cannot continue their education through books. The passage continues...For years the "western literature" sections of the bookshops were devoted to the complete works of the Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha: volume after volume with gilded bindings bearing the portrait of an old man with a garish tie, imprccably groomed grey hair, and steely hooded eyes-the left one brown turning pinkish towards the rim."
This clearly shows that they do now like Enver Hoxha or any of the books that are now filled in the librarys.
Avital Tsivkin
D Block
4/4 entry
On page 67 of Balzac, Luo and the narrator in with the old man who knows all the songs Four eyes need to write to his mother. He says to them "wheres beijing?"..We were taken aback by his question, but when we realised he was speaking in earbnest we couldnt help laughing. For a moment I almost envied him his complete ignorance of the outside world." This quote is basically telling us that many people in remote villages don't know anything thats happening in the outside world, and teh narrator thinks thats a good things and says he envies it, which tells us that the change that was brought upon china and the communism is something he strongly dislikes, and would prefer to not know about it rather than be a victim of it.
On page fifty seven, the narrator describes the first book that Four-eyes gives him, saying that "Ursule's story rang as true as if it had been about my neighbors" (57) This shows that even though the book took place in France, a place where he knows nothing about, he still feels close to it. This book is the first book that he has read, and he doesn’t know why they would be banned, but immediately he understands its value the first time reading it through and appreciates it.
Christina Wu
E block
2/4
On page sixty-two the Little Seamstress said that “having Balzac’s words next to her skim made her feel good, and also more intelligent” (67) This is said after she reads the passage the narrator wrote on his sheepskin coat. It shows that she believes that intelligence comes from literature. When she is introduced to this western writing she admires it and shows that she is aware of its value.
christina wu
e block
3/4
On page sixty-one, Luo regrets giving the book back to Four-eyes because it “could have read it out, page by page, to the Little Seamstress. That would have made her more refined, more cultured, I’m quite sure.” This shows that they believe that books are the key to becoming civilized. It was only the first book she read, yet they already know what books can do to someone, proving that they are more open to these western ideas because they accept it and are willing to pass it on to more people.
christina wu
e block
4/4
“The ultimate pay-off of this metamorphosis, this feat of Balzacian re-education, was yet to come did not occur to us.” (180) This shows that they underestimated the power of literature, proving that books have more to them that meets the eye. Before, they were just thought of as stories, but now they realize that it can change a person’s entire way of thinking, just like with the Little Steamstress.
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