The Jade Peony

Plot: This story The Jade Peony, is about a Chinese family that has just immigrated to Vancouver, British-Columbia, and is experiencing trouble adjusting to the new lifestyle. Sek-Lung is very close to his grandmamma, who is a very spiritual woman. She teaches him old Chinese traditions, like how to make wind chimes, which are hung near the window after the persons death, so that the spirit can easily find its way home, and thus say good-bye properly. They spend most of their time bonding, and rummaging through peoples trashcans in hopes of finding things they could use for her wind chime. She talks about her lover, the Juggler, and how life had been for her growing up in China. It is while making dinner one day that grandmamma notices a white cat, with red eyes, outside the facade of the house, and realizes that the Juggler has returned to show her that it is her time to go. Several days later she becomes ill and frail, but reassures her family that it is just cold, even thought she knows she doesnt have much longer to survive.

Setting: This story The Jade Peony, takes place in gloomy Vancouver, British-Columbia, where the family just moved to from China. It also takes place in their simple and cozy, little home, and in numerous garbage cans of residents who lives in the neighbourhoods in close proximity.

Characters: The main characters in this realistic story are grandmamma, and Sek-Lung, her loving grandson. The grandmamma is a very old-fashioned woman, who loves her family and cares for them very much. She has an especially strong belief in spirits, is very spiritual, and is always trying to teach her family about imperative Chinese traditions. Sek-Lung is a sweet child who gets along with his grandmamma very well, and is very close to her. He loves her very much and loves spending time with her and listening to her tell stories about her childhood in China. Sek-Lungs father is one of many minor characters who have insignificant roles. His father is a very caring man who is concerned about his children and how they are adjusting to their life in Vancouver. He is a little apprehensive, because his children are presently rebelling against their native homeland. Sek-Lungs sister Liang, and his oldest brother Kiam are other minor characters, and not too much is known about them. Sek-Lungs stepmother and the juggler are the last of the minor characters mentioned in this story.

Theme: There is more then one theme in this pragmatic story, one of them being, The spiritual eyesight improves as the physical eyesight declines; as you grow old, your body may start to physically deteriorate, however, your mind and your ability to perceive, and understand things improves, and you continue to acquire wisdom. Grandmamma being so much older than her grandson, Sek-Lung, has acquired wisdom you can only obtain with age. She teaches him things it has taken a lifetime for her to learn. You cant put off the inevitable. The grandmamma knew when she saw the white cat, with its red eyes that her life was almost over and the she could not evade or put off her death. Her time had come and it was now that she would leave. She knew the best thing she could do was just let death take her and not fight it i.e. by going to the hospital. Good things come to those who wait. Grandmamma had been separated from her lover ever since his death, and they would now be reunited in this parallel universe, where she was headed. Although her death was poignant occasion, it was also a pleasant time, because she had lived her life and died at an old age, she was ready to go, and she would now be with her lover.

Symbolism: There are many examples of symbolism in this story for instance, the wind chimes, the jade peony and the cat. The most significant symbol in this story is the white cat, with its red eyes, that appears outside the house. This cat symbolizes that grandmammas time has come, and that she must move on to her next life where she will be reunited with the juggler. This cat bring backs reminiscences and old feelings she had for her lover, and is therefore a significant symbol in this story.

Point of View: This story is told from Sek-Lungs viewpoint. It is in the first person and this has a strong effect on the story. You get to see how Sek-Lung feels and how he is affected by his grandmammas death. You start to sympathize and feel compassionate towards the boy, whos best friend, and grandmamma, has just passed away. You get to see what they shared, and how they enjoyed bonding with each other. This point is very interesting, because most stories are not told by a first person narrator, and the narrator more often then not is not a young child.

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