Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress Character Analysis

In the novel, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, Dai Sijie creates a story based on the Chinese Cultural Revolution, with three main characters: Luo, the narrator, and the Little Seamstress. Because of their parents’ identity, Luo and the narrator are sent to re-education in the mountains where they meet the Little Seamstress. Parts of the novel portray the boys’ attitude towards the Little Seamstress and whether the Little Seamstress rejects or accepts the role they put on her. Initially the boys treat the Little Seamstress as a possession, but after she plays the key ring game and reads the Western books, the Little Seamstress rejects the role and runs away to the city.
Luo and the narrator treat the Little Seamstress in an insincere
This implies that the narrator does not appreciate the Little Seamstress’ inner beauty, but rather her outer appearance. In Luo’s story, he describes the Little Seamstress as a possession as well. While playing the key ring game with the Little Seamstress, Luo says: “Not because I had any illusions about my future, but simply because it gave me the opportunity to admire her sensual body gliding through the water naked but for fragile leaves of her loincloth” (141). Luo identifies the Little Seamstress as a mountain girl who has nothing special but a pretty face. He also conveys that the reason he plays the key ring game with the Little Seamstress is simply just to admire her body. This demonstrates that Luo has never treats the Little Seamstress as his girlfriend and plans no future with her, instead he thinks of her as a possession he admires. Later in the story, the boys discover the news of the Little Seamstress’ departure from the tailor. After finding the Little Seamstress and perceiving her transformation, the narrator depicts Luo’s reaction,
In the Little Seamstress’ story, she expounds her time with Luo and the key ring game they play, “But when I reached out to grab it I felt a stinging blow to my right hand: a snapping of jaws, fierce and painful. After that I gave up trying to retrieve Luo’s key ring” (146). Getting bitten by a snake is not simply an injury for the Little Seamstress, but also a “wake up call” for her. The injury reminds her that she should no longer strive to please Luo, but rather take control over herself. The words “fierce” and “painful” represent the Little Seamstress’ feelings about being controlled. “Fierce” suggests the boys’ strong and powerful control. “Painful” relates to how the Little Seamstress feels about being controlled. Additionally, the narrator mentions, “Not until the previous evening had she told him of her plans to change her life and try her chances in the city” (180). To get away from the boys’ control, the Little Seamstress decides to run away to the city. Her plans to change her life include not only finding a job and living in the city, but also to break away from the boys’ domination. This decision implies the Little Seamstress’ rejection of the boys. With the knowledge she gained, she is smart with her moves and proceeds with her plan successfully. After the Little Seamstress is gone, Luo retells her last words to