Disspointed Little Seamstress

So in ELA our group mostly talked about a quote from the book I am reading, "Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress." It is about 2 boys, the narrator, his friend Luo and their friend the Little Seamstress, a girl. Both of the boys are in love with the Little Seamstress. The story takes place in the "cultural revolution" of China. The 2 boys are being re-educated and find a stash of banned "Western" books. The Little Seamstress, (whose name is never mentioned, she is just referred to as "the Little Seamstress") says in a letter to Luo, "I'm disappointed, but that's life." Dramatic right? Funny thing is that she is referring to how Luo, showed her that they both have 2nd toes longer than their big toe and since then she has seen that other people who have 2nd toes longer than there big toe. So why so dramatic?

Well it could be that during coming of age we start to see things differently and really question things which is extremely scary. It's scary when everything you have ever thought starts to change. So because we are scared, our thoughts and every day conversations start to take a darker turn, especially with our friends. Her fear has come out in conversation. It could be that this isn't really the reason why she speaks so dramatically. Though the Little Seamstress craves knowledge she is still raised in the Cultural Revolution where the young are being held from knowledge. She lives in a world where knowledge and questioning are discouraged. At this point in the book they have not found the banned books so she has not learned about the outside world from these books yet. She hasn't changed or grown. She is still naive, or at least the government are trying to keep the young naive.

It could just be young innocent love. She has a crush on Luo, and when you have a crush on someone as a teenager you cherish little things like both having 2nd toes longer than your big toe. Anything that you have in common is important. It's the same idea as doodling both of your names in the back of a notebook with a heart around it just to see your names together. Or noticing that you both like coffee or dubstep. In this case the Little Seamstress and Luo don't have opportunities for much personality, like interesting names, or coffee, or dubstep. She also just doesn't know him that well yet, as it often is with a crush. So things like toes seem important.

I could be wrong. Is it possible to stomp out adolescence by taking away anything that could help you grow? Like books or movies or proper schooling? If you don't know about the world is it possible to question it? For example if you never see a cigarette you'll never smoke one to rebel right? Is this the same idea or is it a natural thing? I think no matter what situation you are in you will still grow. Maybe you can keep it from surfacing but it will still be there. Perhaps the Little Seamstress was unconsciously questioning the world and wasn't content with her life but the cultural revolution kept that part of her from showing. She thought life was disappointing but there was no teenage rebellion or teenage spirit. Just occasional casual, but dramatic remarks.