"Rickshaw" by Lao She

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the rickshaw is a symbol of what is wrong with Chinese society and how it allows good men such as Hsiang Tzu, the protagonist in "Rickshaw" by Lao She, to evolve into pathetic survivors, who litter the streets and die meaningless deaths. he author points out that the rickshaws appear throughout the story; in fact, they could be considered other characters in the story because they are so important to the rickshaw drivers' lives. The paper states that owning your own rickshaw is a symbol of status in the rickshaw community. It symbolizes how hard the driver has worked to earn the money to pay for a new rickshaw and the driver's freedom from those who rent rickshaws to drivers; therefore, the rickshaw itself is a symbol of freedom and hope.

From the Paper:

"To the drivers, the rickshaws are their lives (Lao 12), and so, they take on special significance as the story continues. When Tzu loses his rickshaw, his life takes another turn, for the rickshaw is his livelihood as well as his hope for the future, and he must start all over again on his quest for success. The rickshaw takes on special significance when the reader understands that the rickshaw could make the difference between life and death to its driver. Rickshaws are in fact the story, for the story would not exist without them. They symbolize freedom, but in Tzu's case, they also symbolize bondage, because as he works and works to buy his own rickshaws, he has no life other than work, and no desires other than the elusive rickshaw."

More papers on "Rickshaw" by Lao She:

• Book Review # 75275 : "'Rickshaw'"
• Analytical Essay # 124344 : "Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching": Following the 'Way' and Right Conduct"

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