Sisterhood
Sisterhood is a symbol of holiness. Sister Therese takes her vows to be married to Jesus and serve humanity for the rest of her life. The life of sisterhood is not easy because Therese has to deny herself the luxuries of this world, such as having sexual relationships, giving birth to children, and living with her family.
Yu Guan
Guan is a symbol of woman bravery and capability given an opportunity. In the 19th century, most Korean and Chinese cultures favored the boy-child compared to girls. However, Yu Guan demonstrated that women could be leaders and do things most men are not ready to undertake. For instance, Yu Guan leads a revolution against the Japanese, which is an act of bravery.
Hyung’s center mark
Hyung has a center mark that symbolically represents her sense of belonging. Hyung knows that even though she is a refugee in China, she is Korean and has a cherished heritage. At the refugee camp, Hyung is prohibited from speaking her mother tongue as a form of torturing her. She waits patiently to gain her freedom and go home where she can freely enjoy her heritage.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is an emblem of human salvation. The world is evil to the extent that people crucify Jesus because of His holiness. After his resurrection, Jesus ascends to heaven, and he promises to come in eternity to award the righteous and condemn the evildoers. Consequently, Jesus symbolizes hope for the righteous.
The Well
The well emblematically represents healing powers. When the young woman is sent by her mother to go to the well to fetch water, she sees a figure which turns out to be a mysterious woman. The young girl sees the woman filling cans with healthy water. When the young girl tells her that she is fetching water for her ailing mother, the mysterious woman gives her remedies and instructions on how to cure her mother. Therefore, the young girl attributes the healing powers that saved her mother from the well where she met the young woman with therapeutic supremacies.
