Brother Quang's Symbols

In the poem, “Left Behind” from the novel Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, Brother Quang and mother’s items that are left behind have a greater symbolic meaning. Firstly, Brother Quang abandons his report cards. When deciding what item to take to America, he decides, “Brother Quang’s report cards, each ranking him first in class, beginning in kindergarten” (57 lines 4-7). The selection of this possession shows that he is smart. Also one can infer that he does not see his report cards as a piece of paper but an achievement of his academic skills. This possession symbolizes his achievement in learning and academics. He is leaving this behind because he will not be able to learn anything on a ship and his skills will not be useful

to him since he is going to learn different topics in a different country that speaks a different language. Similarly, mother left behind “Vines of Jasmine”. While remembering the colors of her old house,“Vines of jasmine in front of every window that remind Mother of the North” (57 lines 13-16). The choice of the possession unveils that she is willing to sacrifice her wishes for the future of her family. The vines symbolize her ancestry and her hopes of going back to North Vietnam. Also, the Jasmine vines portray that she misses her home in the North. Additionally the vines prove that she is willing to give up her memory of her childhood for the fate of the family. She is leaving the vines behind because her hopes of going back to North Vietnam and seeing her family have diminished since the war between North and South Vietnam has started. Thus, in the poem, “Left Behind” from the novel Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, Brother Quang and mother’s items that they leave behind contain a more deeper symbolic meaning.