The glasses are used throughout the story to represent the key personality traits of Four-Eyes,
specifically his beguiling tendencies and reliance on his privilege and others. The glasses show the juvenile nature of Four-Eyes’ character, particularly in relation to the other characters as they come of age. Four-Eyes chooses to behave in ways that are immature and disrespectful to others, as long as it helps him get ahead, This consistently angers the protagonists, as they have learned and matured to generally do what is better for the common good. When Four-Eyes is forced to go to work without his glasses, the narrator describes, “ Without his spectacles his goggle eyes reminded me of the dull, dazed look of a Pekinese dog. He seemed quite lost and stricken, even before he had hoisted the hod of rice onto his back” (53). This symbolizes that Four Eyes’ glasses are a privilege that he has, which makes him seemingly superior to other characters and gives him opprtunities that others don’t have. However, when he is forced to do without them, he loses this privilege and must somehow get by without them, just like everyone else in the village. Problematically, the lack of this privilege makes it so that he is unable to work effectively, as he “knocks against a rock [and] causes the contents [of his basket] to spill out.
specifically his beguiling tendencies and reliance on his privilege and others. The glasses show the juvenile nature of Four-Eyes’ character, particularly in relation to the other characters as they come of age. Four-Eyes chooses to behave in ways that are immature and disrespectful to others, as long as it helps him get ahead, This consistently angers the protagonists, as they have learned and matured to generally do what is better for the common good. When Four-Eyes is forced to go to work without his glasses, the narrator describes, “ Without his spectacles his goggle eyes reminded me of the dull, dazed look of a Pekinese dog. He seemed quite lost and stricken, even before he had hoisted the hod of rice onto his back” (53). This symbolizes that Four Eyes’ glasses are a privilege that he has, which makes him seemingly superior to other characters and gives him opprtunities that others don’t have. However, when he is forced to do without them, he loses this privilege and must somehow get by without them, just like everyone else in the village. Problematically, the lack of this privilege makes it so that he is unable to work effectively, as he “knocks against a rock [and] causes the contents [of his basket] to spill out.
Interesting perspective. I like that you tie in the symbolism to the actual character and how they are related. Could you say that the loss of his glasses both literally and figuratively blind him, such that he can neither work nor see other people's perspectives?
ReplyDeleteDo you think the Narrator has any special advantages that others don't? Does Luo?
ReplyDeletea. How do the glasses effect how Four Eyes views himself?
ReplyDeleteb. I also think that they could represent jealousy, the narrator and Luo are only envious of Four Eyes when he is wearing his glasses. When he is just like them working in the fields they pity him, but later when he gets his new glasses and he is in possession of the books they become extremely jealous.
Was it really the glasses that made him more privileged and superior to others, or did it just provide him with more confidence than when he didn't have them? I think that you are right in saying that his glasses are connected to his personality and characteristics, and that the presence and absence of them may affect Four Eyes.
ReplyDeleteI would say that while the glasses might not fully represent his 'superiority' to others in the village, it definitely represents the fact that he at least feels that he is above them either mentally or physically.
ReplyDeleteThis is very true. Why do you think Four Eye's believes his glasses get him ahead? Because it shows his ranking in the social community? He must have many more privileges compared to the Protagonists.
ReplyDeletea. Do you think that Luo and the narrator feel inferior to Four Eyes when he wears his glasses?
ReplyDeleteb. This probably connects to jealousy. The narrator often times points out that Four Eyes comes from a wealthy background which probably means that he wishes he can have access to glasses or books, for example.
I really liked how you described all of the things that go into his glasses. There is just one thing that I had a question on. Why do you think that Four Eyes always has them and walks around with a I am better than you attitude towards others? His parents are rich enough to get him glasses, so do you think its because he has come from a different life style? There is a connection between Four Eyes and coming of age because when he realizes that his glasses are not going to help him in this situation he panics. He is also forced to work besides his new handicap that other people in this village might also have.
ReplyDeletea.Do you think that Four-Eyes thinks of himself as any less of a person knowing that his glasses makes him look weird towards others?
ReplyDeleteb. I think that this represents jelousy because people such as the narrator and Luo are jelous of how unique he is, and how he has access to many things they don't. They also realize that he has a better chance of getting out of re-education because of his mother, and they want to be like him.
In a rampantly anti-intellectual society like Cultural Revolution Era China, do glasses really improve a character's social standing or just alienate them? I think there is also an interesting connection to nepotism and how his mother replaces his glasses.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the deeper meaning/symbolism of Four Eyes's mother coming back and giving him yet another pair of glasses?
ReplyDeleteI think this symbol also pertains to jealousy as not only are they obviously a symbol of Four Eyes's privilege, but are also a depiction of the narrator's jealousy of his privilege allows him to escape and have books which the narrator was barred from.