Bamboo People

The first eight chapters introduce several important themes, symbols, and characters. Chiko, the first protagonist, reveals Burma’s chaos through his educated but naive perspective. The novel also introduces Tai, his friend and main supporting character, as well as the main antagonist and face of propaganda—the captain.

In addition, this section introduces the theme of Education Versus Propaganda/Hatred. Although schools are closed because of national instability, Chiko was homeschooled by his father, an open-minded, worldly, and educated man. Chiko takes his education to heart and wants to become a teacher. He already has practical experience through his lessons with Lei, his student and crush. However, Perkins also hints that his bookish education isn’t everything—he’s easily overpowered and conscripted by the military and falls for a trap in the newspaper presenting itself as a “teaching exam.” Daw Widow, Lei’s mother and influential role model for Chiko, makes this point as well when she reminds him, “[Are you saying that] [s]omebody who can read a book or use a pencil is smarter than somebody who can’t?” (18). Daw Widow, while illiterate, is excellent at gathering intelligence.

As an extension of his character, Chiko’s glasses symbolize his literacy and the power of his education. He wears them constantly and is open about his love of books. He’s valued for his education and tasked with teaching Lei to read. However, Chiko complains that his glasses fall off at inopportune moments, such as when he interacts with Lei—and they don’t protect him when the captain beats him during his conscription, demonstrating that book smarts aren’t always the key to survival.

Another major theme introduced in this section is that of The Importance of Strong Role Models. Father has a huge influence on Chiko’s life: A respected doctor, he educated Chiko and encouraged him to “[r]ead widely.” However, Father’s arrest leaves Chiko lost, giving him adult responsibilities but no guidepost. Daw Widow fills this void by supporting Chiko and Mother emotionally and socially, giving Chiko job experience through tutoring Lei, and encouraging both his career aspirations and his crush. Chiko respects her wisdom and opinions greatly, and is chastised when she points out that literacy isn’t everything. Thus, although Chiko’s father is absent, he still has other role models.

This contrasts with other conscripted boys. They view the captain as their “father,” and he calls them his “sons,” but the relationship isn’t healthy. The soldiers declare that they’re his favorites, the most loyal, but from the beginning Chiko—who has known a truly healthy father/son relationship—can see that these kinship terms are just empty words. Chiko also questions the military when he notices that the training center once belonged to the Karenni people.

Daw Widow introduces a second important symbol: the photograph of Father as resilience. In the photo, which she gives to Chiko as a parting gift before his exam, Father has a determined expression. Chiko has already done his best to stay strong after the arrest, but his conscription promises harder days ahead. He keeps the photo securely in his pocket, close to his heart, as a reminder that he can and will survive this ordeal. It’s also the first object he searches for after his beating and departure from Yangon, marking it as a treasured possession.

His discovery of Lei’s photo is a surprise but represents another photographic symbol of the story: hope. In a hopeless situation, finding Lei’s photo sustains him in ways Father’s doesn’t. Resilience is a constant quality, abstract and habitual, a long-term goal. Hope, however, brightens the dark night at the training center and gives him motivation to survive. The implication that Daw Widow is aware of Chiko’s feelings for Lei and tacitly approves of them also gives him hope that his new love has a chance, buoying him during his conscription.

The final theme, which this section also introduces, is that of Friendship Without Borders, specifically the friendship between Tai and Chiko. While Chiko is hesitant and keeps his distance, Tai sticks close to him. Basic survival skills aren’t Chiko’s forte, so Tai looks out for him, saving supplies and inviting him to escape together. Although the boys aren’t close yet, it’s clear that their relationship will continue to grow throughout the novel.