Bamboo People

All the established themes and symbols converge in this section. The first is the theme of The Importance of Strong Role Models: Although Chiko is now the “man of the house” (98) and his salary is sent home to Mother, thereby supporting his loved ones, Chiko still cares deeply about Father. He has little hope that he can find or rescue his father before his conscription, but—inspired by Daw Widow’s intelligence tactics—Chiko takes the initiative to use his own resources to find information about Father. This is significant for several reasons: It shows how his own role models—in this case, Daw Widow and Tai—have influenced him to be resourceful and use his connections to his advantage, and it has pushed him into being brave and proactive to solve his problems. Although the sergeant isn’t a role model that Chiko aspires to emulate, he remains a significant ally as he values Chiko’s literacy. Making Chiko his secretary provides opportunities that Chiko wouldn’t have access to otherwise, such as the clerk job in Yangon or news of Father. In this way, Chiko begins to mature and grow up, learning to take the initiative rather than remaining a passive bystander.

The theme of Education Versus Propaganda/Hatred likewise plays a significant role in these chapters. This is evident during the captain’s movie screening, an event that’s meant to brainwash the conscripts with the military’s ideology, simultaneously demonizing ethnicities like the Karenni while solidifying the junta’s mental foothold and power over its soldiers. The captain’s speeches exacerbate this effect; Chiko notices that many boys agree with the captain’s scapegoating because “[a]ll they have is this captain’s version” (48). Chiko and Tai know better, because of their education and personal experiences; however, without an education, the influence of propaganda can be catastrophic. Chiko observes this when a fellow conscript is nearly killed because he has Shan heritage, another demonized ethnic group.

This physical violence introduces another symbol, the body as Burma. While beatings and punishments are common, violence of this scale and for such a reason (mixed heritage) represents the fractured nature of Burma during this period. As a diverse nation, Burma is home to many different ethnicities and languages; however, the military’s “Burma for Burmese only” propaganda divides and stratifies ethnic groups into “the oppressor” and “the oppressed,” damaging the nation as a whole. The conscripted boys, who are nearly all Burmese, are ignorant of this issue; their bodies are whole and wholly Bamar/Burmese, mirroring the ideology pushed by the military. The Shan boy, though also Bamar, is rejected for his mixed heritage, symbolizing the junta’s rejection of non-Bamar people. The violence against him represents the violence against other ethnic groups; the near-fatal beating (perpetuated by Bamar boys) warns of the consequences of such a war on Burma as a whole. This is the danger of blindly following propaganda, and it shows why education (including learning to consider diverse perspectives) is so important.

Chiko’s literacy and power is returned to him through the symbolism of his glasses. As the sergeant’s secretary, he’s allowed to wear them. This represents his increased privileges and responsibilities. He also becomes a role model himself when he teaches Tai and Bindu to read and write. Thanks to the education he receives and passes on, Chiko (and later Tai) gain more practical opportunities, such as the clerk job in Yangon. Without their education, these doors would remain closed to them, as demonstrated by the sergeant and captain (who are both illiterate).

Chiko and Tai’s friendship continues to develop, from best friends to brotherhood. Their bond is continually tested: The captain forces Chiko to beat Tai under threat of solitary confinement; Chiko must keep his position in Yangon a secret from Tai; and Chiko ultimately must choose between saving himself and saving his friend when the captain demands a jungle mission “volunteer”—a decision that pushes Chiko to find the bravery to sacrifice himself to save Tai. Compared to his initial cowardice and reluctance, this choice demonstrates Chiko’s character growth and the value he places on their bond.

Paralleling the captain, they also gather their own loyal followers, who, without coercion, block the captain’s vision during Tai’s fake beating. This speaks to the importance and strength of unity and contrasts with the relationship between the sergeant and captain. Although both men share a similar background, their relationship remains unbalanced and antagonistic: The captain prefers to rule by power, fear, and force, being a bully by nature; the sergeant is rarely able to reject the captain’s commands despite his dislike of the higher-ranked man.

Additionally, the photographs, symbolizing hope and resilience, make brief appearances. Because of their close relationship, Tai naturally discovers Chiko’s photos; however, Chiko shows him only the photo of Father, as Lei’s is too private. This reflects the qualities that the photos symbolize: Chiko and Tai both need resilience to survive the military, and they bond over it. They’re also both missing their father figures and role models from home, so the picture of Father is a reminder both of what brings them together and what they’ve lost.

On the other hand, Lei is Chiko’s private secret. Although Tai guesses that Chiko has a crush, Tai doesn’t share this; he focuses on familial love (his sister) rather than romance. Meanwhile, Chiko’s feelings for Lei are new, developing, and fragile. He isn’t brave enough to confess, but he has hope about her response. He keeps his feelings to himself, but they sustain him more directly than his father does. When he volunteers for the captain’s mission, the photos and his glasses are the only items he takes with him, indicating both their significance to him personally and the role these items (and what they symbolize) play in his life.