A Brief Case of the Suitcase

“Inside, piles of books shone in the light of our torch: a company of great Western writers welcomed us with open arms” (99).

“‘...lend us some of those books you’ve got hidden in your suitcase. How’s that for a deal?’ ‘To hell with you,’ growled Four-Eyes. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t got any books hidden away’” (54).

Sijie uses Four-Eyes’ elegant suitcase to represent the culture that had been taken away from the people during the Cultural Revolution. The small, leather suitcase held within it the works of the fathers of Democracy and the best European writers, works deemed traitorous and counter-revolutionary to the state. Mao, characterized by Four-Eyes in this specific instance, denies the existence of the previous culture of the Chinese people. The rather aggressive demeanor of Four-Eyes shows how dictatorial and stringent Mao was towards keeping any ideals against his total rule nonexistent. He tries to hide it (as Four-Eyes kept it in his suitcase), but despite his efforts, it still barely exists in my minds of the people (being Luo and the narrator). The boys are at an age of critical self development and these books give them models and rich examples of true emotions and ideals that are prevalent amongst a free and unsuppressed people. YEAH.