A Thematic Analysis Of Yiyun Li's 'Passing Through'
Ashley Jones
Dr. Harvey
English 102
30 Jan. 2015
A Chance at a New Life: A Thematic Analysis of
“Passing Through” by Yiyun Li Most would agree that democracy is one of the best political assets a country can offer. Fortunately, the United States’ government is based off of democracy. In a democracy citizens are allowed to vote on the decisions that the government makes. However, that is not the case for many other countries. China, for example, is a communist country. The choices the communist government makes rely more on the decisions that the government officials make rather than the choices of the citizens. Communism has sparked plenty of controversy in China. Many citizens are opposed to communism and have protested for a chance at …show more content…
Li states, “After the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, the Chinese Ministry of Education began sending future students of Beijing University, a hotbed of pro-democratic protest, into the military for a year.” (154) The military provided the students with hours of lecture on the greatness of communism. Even though she may have not agreed with communism and she had been forced to join the military; she knew that attending Beijing University would give her a chance at a life with more freedom in The United States. Li explains a particular experience she had in the military. The troops had been traveling for weeks before they made a stop in a tiny village. While stopping in the village Li meets a young girl who pesters her for candy. The young girl collects candy wrappers. She gives the girl a candy wrapper and realizes in that moment even though she is being forced to be in the military she is still on the path for a brighter future, which gives an escape from the communist …show more content…
She uses some elements of a descriptive essay by stating, “An old woman was pounding dried peppers in a huge stone mortar. The breeze spread the fine powders, and many of us sneezed;” (154) While reading that sentence the audience can practically smell and feel the burn of the peppers. This does in fact appeal to the reader’s senses, but Li is describing an important memory in her life. This supports the fact that the essay is more of a narrative essay, rather than a descriptive
Dr. Harvey
English 102
30 Jan. 2015
A Chance at a New Life: A Thematic Analysis of
“Passing Through” by Yiyun Li Most would agree that democracy is one of the best political assets a country can offer. Fortunately, the United States’ government is based off of democracy. In a democracy citizens are allowed to vote on the decisions that the government makes. However, that is not the case for many other countries. China, for example, is a communist country. The choices the communist government makes rely more on the decisions that the government officials make rather than the choices of the citizens. Communism has sparked plenty of controversy in China. Many citizens are opposed to communism and have protested for a chance at …show more content…
Li states, “After the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, the Chinese Ministry of Education began sending future students of Beijing University, a hotbed of pro-democratic protest, into the military for a year.” (154) The military provided the students with hours of lecture on the greatness of communism. Even though she may have not agreed with communism and she had been forced to join the military; she knew that attending Beijing University would give her a chance at a life with more freedom in The United States. Li explains a particular experience she had in the military. The troops had been traveling for weeks before they made a stop in a tiny village. While stopping in the village Li meets a young girl who pesters her for candy. The young girl collects candy wrappers. She gives the girl a candy wrapper and realizes in that moment even though she is being forced to be in the military she is still on the path for a brighter future, which gives an escape from the communist …show more content…
She uses some elements of a descriptive essay by stating, “An old woman was pounding dried peppers in a huge stone mortar. The breeze spread the fine powders, and many of us sneezed;” (154) While reading that sentence the audience can practically smell and feel the burn of the peppers. This does in fact appeal to the reader’s senses, but Li is describing an important memory in her life. This supports the fact that the essay is more of a narrative essay, rather than a descriptive