1. Character Development
Lee Bao has reached Peking and see what has become of the famed city. The foreign devil has taken control of the city and dictates where people can walk. Others have come to fight alongside Lee Bao and the others. Lee Bao has become a new god, one of fire and one of his own. However, he still questions his motives and has fallen for Mei Wen. As Red Lantern suggested, his yin may been clouded. Chin Shih-huang is constantly in his ear and calling him a coward for not acting as he would.
Lee Bao has persevered through many obstacles and overcome death. He has embraced his fire element and become his own god, but he still questions his actions. His world has been invaded by these foreign devils and his own kind are not welcome to walk where they please. Looking at the deconstruction lens, the world Lee Bao knew is no longer there and he attempting to reclaim it.
Lee Bao is at odds with himself. He is a hero and there are men there ready to fight for him. The edicts that he once held to no longer matter. The character from the beginning of the story is hardly there and his actions are dictated by a ruthless emperor.
2. Historical/Cultural Contexts
The slaying of Baron Von Ketteler did occur and caused an uprising. As in this chapter, the boxers and peasants that lead the uprising were defeated. (reference below) When Lee Bao and the others arrived in Peking and were housed by the Prince, the men and women were housed separately. That would have been common in Chinese culture. As the chapter continued, the referral to the yin being spoiled due to the women assisting in the fighting. Women are not highly regarded in Chinese culture and this is apparent throughout the book.
http://taggedwiki.zubiaga.org/new_content/ed4df6da4e1dab7093eafd1081d92644
3. Symbols
The burning of the library was exactly as Mei Wen described the history and stories of the people of China. If that was gone, what did saving China matter. Lee Bao had become no better than the foreign devils he was trying to expel from China. He wanted to destroy them for their beliefs and they had killed the Chinese for theirs.
4. Language (visual and verbal)
The oppression of the Chinese people is prevalent when they first come to the city. The attack of Lee Bao's young friend by the Baron. The Chinese are told where they can walk and what they can do.
Chin Shih-huang no longer embodies Lee Bao, but rather follows him around and watches him. When Lee Bao makes a decision, Chin Shih-huang questions that decision and his motives. He's the voice that Lee Bao cannot shake and is always lurking. The things that Lee Bao once valued are of no concern to Chin Shih-huang. Lee Bao is continually pushed by a darker force, instead of leading by the morals and edicts be had prior.
5. Theme
I believe that Lee Bao had lost himself in the end of this. He had nearly lost everything, his brothers and father, and was fighting to regain the China that was there before. However, Lee Bao could not reconcile his own judgment against that of Chin Shih-huang's voice. Even when his head was pushed into the well looking at what he had lost, the message was not clear enough. Yes, he was fighting for China, but he was also fighting for a future for himself and everyone else. All of that was getting lost to the unrelenting words coming from a long dead emperor that was power hungry and vengeful. Lee Bao lost sight of what had been important and it cost him everything he had left.
Lee Bao has reached Peking and see what has become of the famed city. The foreign devil has taken control of the city and dictates where people can walk. Others have come to fight alongside Lee Bao and the others. Lee Bao has become a new god, one of fire and one of his own. However, he still questions his motives and has fallen for Mei Wen. As Red Lantern suggested, his yin may been clouded. Chin Shih-huang is constantly in his ear and calling him a coward for not acting as he would.
Lee Bao has persevered through many obstacles and overcome death. He has embraced his fire element and become his own god, but he still questions his actions. His world has been invaded by these foreign devils and his own kind are not welcome to walk where they please. Looking at the deconstruction lens, the world Lee Bao knew is no longer there and he attempting to reclaim it.
Lee Bao is at odds with himself. He is a hero and there are men there ready to fight for him. The edicts that he once held to no longer matter. The character from the beginning of the story is hardly there and his actions are dictated by a ruthless emperor.
2. Historical/Cultural Contexts
The slaying of Baron Von Ketteler did occur and caused an uprising. As in this chapter, the boxers and peasants that lead the uprising were defeated. (reference below) When Lee Bao and the others arrived in Peking and were housed by the Prince, the men and women were housed separately. That would have been common in Chinese culture. As the chapter continued, the referral to the yin being spoiled due to the women assisting in the fighting. Women are not highly regarded in Chinese culture and this is apparent throughout the book.
http://taggedwiki.zubiaga.org/new_content/ed4df6da4e1dab7093eafd1081d92644
3. Symbols
The burning of the library was exactly as Mei Wen described the history and stories of the people of China. If that was gone, what did saving China matter. Lee Bao had become no better than the foreign devils he was trying to expel from China. He wanted to destroy them for their beliefs and they had killed the Chinese for theirs.
4. Language (visual and verbal)
The oppression of the Chinese people is prevalent when they first come to the city. The attack of Lee Bao's young friend by the Baron. The Chinese are told where they can walk and what they can do.
Chin Shih-huang no longer embodies Lee Bao, but rather follows him around and watches him. When Lee Bao makes a decision, Chin Shih-huang questions that decision and his motives. He's the voice that Lee Bao cannot shake and is always lurking. The things that Lee Bao once valued are of no concern to Chin Shih-huang. Lee Bao is continually pushed by a darker force, instead of leading by the morals and edicts be had prior.
5. Theme
I believe that Lee Bao had lost himself in the end of this. He had nearly lost everything, his brothers and father, and was fighting to regain the China that was there before. However, Lee Bao could not reconcile his own judgment against that of Chin Shih-huang's voice. Even when his head was pushed into the well looking at what he had lost, the message was not clear enough. Yes, he was fighting for China, but he was also fighting for a future for himself and everyone else. All of that was getting lost to the unrelenting words coming from a long dead emperor that was power hungry and vengeful. Lee Bao lost sight of what had been important and it cost him everything he had left.
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