Loyalty to one’s nation is a theme that frequently pops up in the novel or rather loyalty to one’s nation is tested in the novel. There is no such thing as a “right side” and ultimately it is the common person who ends up paying the steepest price for the squabbling of a handful of powers-that-be.
The truth is loud and clear: war is stupid. Unlike many novels that glorify war as a noble endeavor and a holy duty the novel removes all the gloss by narrating events from the point of view of a young child. He describes what he considers to be the ridiculous notion of honor in victory and defeat espoused by the Japanese soldiers. He recounts the apparent silliness of each aggressor side: he reports the arrogance displayed by British colonial forces towards the Chinese, then the indiscriminate violence inflicted by the Chinese soldiers later on directed towards everyone it seems, peasant and soldier alike. Jim, the main character and narrator of the novel, is a young boy whose reports of the war are relatively untainted by adult propaganda or nationalistic inclinations. He learns courage, self-determination, and resourcefulness when he is forced to live as all the POW’s do: faced with the constant threat of death through violence and starvation. The experience of having suddenly been torn away from his comfort zone-his wealthy parents, his luxurious, comfortable lifestyle in Shanghai-teaches him about the brutal realities of war, human nature, and ultimately himself in ways that no teacher could have. He is separated from his parents when the hostilities begin and a significant portion of the book is spent trying to find them.
The main theme of the novel is Jim’s journey towards maturity with World War II as his backdrop and catalyst. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.
These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.
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