Style, Technique, and Structure in Paradise of the Blind
Often in novels the author 's use of style, technique, and structure create a greater meaning in the novel. In Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong, uses these things in tandem to emphasize Hang’s journey to find her own individual purpose. Flashbacks to family situations and traditional events, the contrast in setting between Russia and Hanoi, and the use of a circular writing, symbols, and setting, Huong establishes the theme that one must find one’s own purpose.
Huong uses a circular writing style to portray Hang’s character. As the novel flows from Hang’s past memories to the present, her feelings are paralleled with the different events. This allows the reader to see Hang’s …show more content…
Each symbol portrays an obstacle or a step forward in Hang’s journey. The color purple is a symbol that represents Hang’s major struggle in the novel. As a symbol of the shift in Vietnamese culture, it shows the major struggle which Hang must go through to find her own purpose. This is also represented by the golden rings and earrings in which Tam gives to Hang. Hang’s willingness to sell them and use them for money shows the shift into the new Vietnamese lifestyle, while Tam and Que wanting them to remain an heirloom represents the old Vietnamese lifestyle. Through the use of these symbols Hang’s struggle through her journey to fining herself is amplified to the …show more content…
In order to accomplish this, Huong uses setting to portray individuality versus a group identity. Hanoi is used in different ways by Huong to portray the theme, this includes using Hanoi to represent individuality and to characterize Hang. Huong’s descriptive writing style is used to portray Hanoi as individualism. This is done by the description of the street vendors. As Hanoi is described the street vendors’ cries and foods create an image for the reader. The individuality of Hanoi is shown through the description of the street vendors’ cries. Each street vendor has “her own song, with its own trills and low rumblings” (Huong 41) emphasizing the individuality of each street vendor. Huong uses this setting to foreshadow Hang’s journey to finding her self-purpose. Hanoi is also used to characterize Hang as a poor street vendor’s daughter living by traditional Vietnamese culture. Russia’s setting is described in a different way than Hanoi’s, thus portraying a group identity rather than individuality. While the street vendors have their own song, the women in the textile mills have no identity. When Huong opens the book with the scene between Hang and her roommate, Hang is the only one described with detail. This shows that Russia is a group identity rather than individual. Russia is also used to show this because of its communist ideals and lack of individuality in the
Often in novels the author 's use of style, technique, and structure create a greater meaning in the novel. In Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong, uses these things in tandem to emphasize Hang’s journey to find her own individual purpose. Flashbacks to family situations and traditional events, the contrast in setting between Russia and Hanoi, and the use of a circular writing, symbols, and setting, Huong establishes the theme that one must find one’s own purpose.
Huong uses a circular writing style to portray Hang’s character. As the novel flows from Hang’s past memories to the present, her feelings are paralleled with the different events. This allows the reader to see Hang’s …show more content…
Each symbol portrays an obstacle or a step forward in Hang’s journey. The color purple is a symbol that represents Hang’s major struggle in the novel. As a symbol of the shift in Vietnamese culture, it shows the major struggle which Hang must go through to find her own purpose. This is also represented by the golden rings and earrings in which Tam gives to Hang. Hang’s willingness to sell them and use them for money shows the shift into the new Vietnamese lifestyle, while Tam and Que wanting them to remain an heirloom represents the old Vietnamese lifestyle. Through the use of these symbols Hang’s struggle through her journey to fining herself is amplified to the …show more content…
In order to accomplish this, Huong uses setting to portray individuality versus a group identity. Hanoi is used in different ways by Huong to portray the theme, this includes using Hanoi to represent individuality and to characterize Hang. Huong’s descriptive writing style is used to portray Hanoi as individualism. This is done by the description of the street vendors. As Hanoi is described the street vendors’ cries and foods create an image for the reader. The individuality of Hanoi is shown through the description of the street vendors’ cries. Each street vendor has “her own song, with its own trills and low rumblings” (Huong 41) emphasizing the individuality of each street vendor. Huong uses this setting to foreshadow Hang’s journey to finding her self-purpose. Hanoi is also used to characterize Hang as a poor street vendor’s daughter living by traditional Vietnamese culture. Russia’s setting is described in a different way than Hanoi’s, thus portraying a group identity rather than individuality. While the street vendors have their own song, the women in the textile mills have no identity. When Huong opens the book with the scene between Hang and her roommate, Hang is the only one described with detail. This shows that Russia is a group identity rather than individual. Russia is also used to show this because of its communist ideals and lack of individuality in the