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Symbolism In Thanhha Li's Inside Out And Back Again

Decent Essays

Symbolism is used in literature to give an object another meaning, other than its literal meaning. A great example of symbolism is the cross and how it symbolizes the death of Jesus. Inside out and Back Again by Thanhha Li 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 have to face this hardship and many to come without the support of their father, who was kidnapped by the Communists and disappeared. Then, travel on a boat in unsanitary and conditions to a refugee camp in Guam. Next, they are sponsored by a man they call “cowboy” and Are taken to live with him and Alabama. In America, the family faces discrimination because of their race and language and struggle to adjust to their new life. Finally, Ha and her family are learning to adjust and like their new home due to the loving support of Miss Washington and their friends. The Papaya Tree that Ha From a seed is very important and symbolizes our happiness. On page 233-334 But Not Bad, it states “Not the same but not bad not bad at all. In the sentence Heist talking about the papaya but it can also mean hello there new life is not bad but not the same as the road life. On page 21 Two More Papayas It sites “two green thumbs that will grow into orange-yellow delights smelling of Summer”.From this I can infer that Ha’s papaya tree Remind her all things that she likes including summer.On page 232 Not The Same it states “not the same at all. So made, I through all in the trash”. This shows that her happiness is not the same. Inconclusive the papaya tree represents happiness and Ha wants To have the papaya tree forever that's why she didn't want it to get cut down. In this story papaya symbolizes hope. When a papaya is brought into the book it represents how hope is doing he's doing and how it is being used. On wet and crying pg 60 It says “ brother vu wants to cut it down, Saying it's better than letting the Communist have it. This shows that they have lost hope as the tree is getting cut down. On page 8 Papaya Tree it quotes “ the tree has grown twice as I stand on tippy toes. From this, I can infer that their hope is growing.” This tells the reader how the papaya

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