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Chapter 40
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Girl with Seven Names, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Oppression, Human Rights, and North Korea
Identity and Nationality
Family
Kindness
Summary
Analysis
Mother tells Hyeonseo that the famine is worsening, but relief will come in 2012—the centenary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, when North Korea will finally be prosperous. Hyeonseo knows nothing will change come 2012, but Mother won’t listen. Then, wanted posters are plastered all over Hyesan for the secretary of the Socialist Youth League, who was thought to have defected. Suddenly, Mother decides that perhaps she will leave, too. Min-ho, however, will never agree to come with her. He has a business and is planning to marry soon.
The North Koreans’ belief that relief with come with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung again reflects the power of the indoctrination in North Korea, and the self-importance of the Kim regime to propagate such an arbitrary and ridiculous belief. There is real suffering in North Korea, but the government simply preaches relief that will never come. Min-ho’s refusal to leave again illustrates his own connection to his home nation, which stays strong no matter how bad things get.
Themes
Hyeonseo contacts a reverend in Seoul who often helps North Koreans escape, but his services involve brokers and thousands of dollars. The journey across China is long—over 2,000 miles—and very difficult. Hyeonseo is averse to the use of brokers, so she decides to go to Changbai and meet Mother on the riverbank. Hyeonseo will guide her through China herself.
Hyeonseo’s willingness to guide her mother 2,000 miles across China by herself reflects the importance of family in her life. The journey is long and dangerous—they could both be arrested, Mother for being a defector and Hyeonseo for helping her, and there are also other dangers, like human traffickers and conmen.
Themes
