Tree-ear is also faced with an unexpected situation that seems unfair and out of his control. He finally gains the courage to ask Min what he truly desires; to be taught to make a pot (p. 94). However, Min’s words, “Know this orphan boy, if ever you learn to make a pot, it will not be from me.. You are not my son,” broke Tree-ear’s spirit and he started questioning his path. Crane-man reassures him that “the same wind that blows one door shut often blows another open.” Tree-ear doesn’t know the meaning of the metaphor at first, but the process of understanding it is what leads him to continue his quest. Each of these situations test the characters’ knowledge of their personal history, but ultimately helps them realize that where they come from
