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Baby Virak
Banyan Tree
The banyan tree symbolizes Raami’s sense of familial safety and protection, which the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror threatens. At Raami’s family estate in Phnom Penh, a large banyan grows in the courtyard. Not…
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Moon
The moon represents the heavenly realm, untouched by worldly suffering, where lost spirits can find freedom. It also represents the power—and limitation—of stories to comfort Raami during times of great struggle and uncertainty. Papa first…
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Water
Water represents the collective sorrow that engulfs and overwhelms the people of Cambodia under Khmer Rouge rule. The symbol of water manifests in various ways throughout the novel. Initially, Raami’s primary reference is the…
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