The Theme of Corruption and Poor Governance
In the year 1910, the Korean economy starts to collapse because of the incompetent aristocratic leaders whose interest is to steal from public coffers. Corruption is rampant and leaders are ready to sell the country to thieves as long as their interests are met. When Korea is axed by Japan, Korean leaders are not surprised and they are not doing anything meaningful to salvage its people. The economy worsens because the prices of basic commodities rise. Property owners increase their rent rates making it almost impossible for peasants like the aging fisherman and his family to survive. As the rent increases, Hoonie's family moves out of their bedroom to sleep in anteroom. The family is scared of what is going to happen next but leaders are comfortable dining at high tables.
The Theme of Poverty
The fisherman’s family are peasants showcasing what poor people go through in life. The only economic activity the aging man is engaged in is fishing which is not even able to sustain his family. His family lives in a small wooden house and when the property owner increases rent, they are almost kicked out of the property. Within the community, some desperate widows and orphans are suffering from poverty. Putting food on the table is an uphill task. The government does not seem to take interest on the normal man because the leaders are up to stealing and putting their interests first. The colonial government has taken most of the properties of the peasants and now they are living in poverty. The situation on the island is worse. People mostly depend on charities to survive. Parents are marrying off their daughters at an early age because they have nothing to feed them The Widower wants to marry off his youngest daughter (fifteen years of age) at least she can get something to eat once married. Besides, the Matchmaker says that the Widower does not expect dowry but few commodities to sustain his family.
The Theme of Arranged Marriages
The marriage between Hoonie and Yangjin is a clear illustration of arranged marriages in ancient society. It is not surprising that neither the broom nor the bride is involved in the negotiations. Parents take a key role in finding suitors for their sons and daughters. In most cases, bride price negotiators are sent to the groom’s family to make his or her intentions known. Upon agreement between the two parties, the bride and the groom are informed of the arrangements and the weddings are conducted as planned. For instance, Hoonie has not asked for a bride and the mother is aware of this. However, traditions dictate that when a negotiator comes to ask a hand for marriage, the family is not supposed to have any objection. From the story, Yangjin's father sends the Matchmaker to go and negotiate on his behalf at Hoonie's parents. He needs a groom to marry her daughters. Hoonie's mother agrees and talks with her husband about the same and they accept to receive the bride.
Life as Full of Misfortunes
From Panchiko’s story, the reader can see that life is unfair and full of misfortunes for the less fortunate in society. Bad lack starts with the aging fisherman and his wife. They are blessed with three children but only one survives. The one that makes it is the eldest and the weakest with a cleft and palate. He also has a crooked leg. Besides that, they are living in poverty and the landlord keeps on increasing the rent because the economy is bad. The economy is worse due to corrupt aristocratic leaders who are not concerned about the poor. Bad lack of follows their son to adulthood even after getting married. He loses his three children to fever, diarrhea, and smallpox. Losing three children is not easy for any parent because it is an unfortunate event. It implies that these poor people cannot access health facilities to save their children causes of death are treatable and preventable. Instead of going to a health facility to check why the children are dying, Yangjin's unmarried sisters advise her to visit a Shaman for spiritual healing because they think she is cursed. To put a hot nail on an injury, Hoonie's parents die after three years of his marriage to Yangjin. Sixteen years into their marriage, Yangjin remains a widow after Hoonie succumbs to tuberculosis.
