Essay Questions

Why does the watch that Ma is wearing hypnotize Tranh (“Yellow Card Man”)?

The prized watch used to belong to Tranh before he sold it off so that he could get some money for survival. Seeing the watch prompts the hypnotism because it reminds Tranh about his past which was exceedingly prosperous.

What rhetorical strategy dominates “Yellow Card Man” (“Yellow Card Man”)?

“Yellow Card Man” employs comparison and contrast strategy which results in the paralleling and contrasting Tranh’s life in Malaya to his life in Thai kingdom. It results in the structure: pre-refuge life versus post-refuge life.

When does Lidia experience her epiphany (“The Fluted Girl”)?

Lidia finds her epiphany when Stephen tells her: “"You're not natural. Look at your eyes, your skin and . . . " he turned his eyes away, his voice lowering, "your bones. Look what she did to your bones." Stephen’s assertion opens Lidia’s eyes towards her existent situation ,and the consequence of Belari’s actions on her body. Stephen makes her realizes that Belari’s treatment have exposed her body to breakage.

What can you deduce about the social class of Belari’s guests (“The Fluted Girl”)?

They are well-to-do because, “ The muslin on the walls flickered like lightning as Belari's guests, swathed in brilliant silks and sparkling gold, swirled through the room in colourful clouds of revelry, clumping together with conversation.” The smartness and glittering of the guests infers that poor people cannot attend the party because they would not meet the expense of to paying the high price of the ‘stocks’ that Belari is about to float.

What is the significance of the paradox in the sentence: “We both know nothing that beautiful comes artificially" (“The Fluted Girl”)?

Belari utters these words when Vernon inquires whether Lidia’s eyes are altered. The assertion is ironic since the eyes were altered through artificial processes. Belari employs paradox to demonstrate that she has full faith in artificial process as they can create unimaginable beauty.

What connotations does the name ‘Vernon” evoke (“The Fluted Girl”)?

The name ‘Vernon’ can easily change to ‘Venom’ once the last letter is substituted with ‘m’ and ‘r’ is omitted. Therefore, the name has connotations of evil. “Vernon” is a malicious person who participates in egoistic actions that are injurious to women.He commercializes the women's bodies after subjecting them to surgeries and harmful treatments.