Symbolism is the use of a symbol to represent an idea, and it is used by many authors to help convey a message. Thanhha Lai is one of these authors. Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai is a work of historical fiction. First, Ha, her mother, and her three brothers were forced to flee their home country of Vietnam due to war. They had to face this hardship, and many to come, without the support of their loving father, who was kidnapped by Communists and disappeared. Then, they traveled aboard an unsanitary, cramped, and awful boat to a refugee camp in Guam. After arriving at the camp, they are sponsored by a man they called “cowboy”, and are brought to live with him in Alabama. In America, the family faces discrimination because of their
…show more content…
Proof of this is found on page 46, when Ha’s brother tells her “I must protect my chick, and you your papaya.” This agreement came down to needing to stay, needing to protect their happiness and the things that bring them joy. Another quote showing how the papaya represents happiness is “‘You children should eat fresh fruit while you can.’”, found on page 60. When Ha’s mother says this, she wants her children experience happiness, however brief, before the long, harrowing journey before them. The third quote that suggests how the papaya represents happiness is on page 39, and states “where vines can climb and shade ripening fruit.” Ha is trying to shield and protect her tree, much like how she she wants to protect and keep her happy, normal life. The papaya is extremely symbolic, and represents Ha’s happiness in many …show more content…
On page 81, Ha says: “cubes of papaya tender and shiny” while she was writing in a journal. This was added to show how Ha still hoped for happiness, peace, and hoped that things would change soon so she could once again enjoy papaya. On page 60, Ha claims that “Brother Vu wants to cut it down, saying it’s better than letting the Communists have it.” Ha’s family is trying to protect their hope by cutting down the papaya, wishing to save it from the war. Ha gets angry on page 232 when she is given packaged papaya, saying “So mad, I throw all in the trash.” Ha has lost hope that she will ever like her new home when her biggest object of comfort is no longer comforting. The papaya that used to be the center of Ha’s whole world, represents the hope of the young girl and her
Proof of this is found on page 46, when Ha’s brother tells her “I must protect my chick, and you your papaya.” This agreement came down to needing to stay, needing to protect their happiness and the things that bring them joy. Another quote showing how the papaya represents happiness is “‘You children should eat fresh fruit while you can.’”, found on page 60. When Ha’s mother says this, she wants her children experience happiness, however brief, before the long, harrowing journey before them. The third quote that suggests how the papaya represents happiness is on page 39, and states “where vines can climb and shade ripening fruit.” Ha is trying to shield and protect her tree, much like how she she wants to protect and keep her happy, normal life. The papaya is extremely symbolic, and represents Ha’s happiness in many …show more content…
On page 81, Ha says: “cubes of papaya tender and shiny” while she was writing in a journal. This was added to show how Ha still hoped for happiness, peace, and hoped that things would change soon so she could once again enjoy papaya. On page 60, Ha claims that “Brother Vu wants to cut it down, saying it’s better than letting the Communists have it.” Ha’s family is trying to protect their hope by cutting down the papaya, wishing to save it from the war. Ha gets angry on page 232 when she is given packaged papaya, saying “So mad, I throw all in the trash.” Ha has lost hope that she will ever like her new home when her biggest object of comfort is no longer comforting. The papaya that used to be the center of Ha’s whole world, represents the hope of the young girl and her