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Chapter Eight
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Rent Collector, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Power of Literature
Appearances, Judgment, and Hidden Character
Heroism and Self-Sacrifice
Hope and Action
Humor and Resilience
Summary
Analysis
Sang Ly is stressed, since she still can’t find any literature even though Sopeap told her it was everywhere. Lucky Fat’s book turned out to be just a mechanic’s instruction manual. The night before her lesson, Ki tells Sang Ly that her cousin Narin stopped by while she was picking trash and said that she might have some literature. Sang Ly is so excited that she ventures out into the darkening evening to go see her cousin, careful to stay on the path and not wander into the mountains of garbage themselves, which are dangerous at night.
Sopeap’s rather vague admonition that literature is everywhere is typical of her teaching style in general, in which she often gives broad and rather vague insights, leaving Sang Ly to do the work of interpreting it. The noted danger of the dump at night reinforces that it is a harsh and difficult environment in which to live, and particularly in which to raise a family.
Themes
When Sang Ly meets with Narin, Narin shares a memorized poem that her mother taught her , about animals and nature. Sang Ly feels that this must be literature, and determines to return in the morning with pencil and paper to copy down the poem. Narin asks if she can have a copy as well.
Narin’s desire to have a copy of a poem she knows by heart suggests that there is power and value in the physical aspect of writing. Even if Narin herself cannot read it, written words that her mother once spoke seem precious because they have the power to connect Narin with her loved one despite their separation.
Themes
The next day, after explaining grammar—which Sang Ly discovers is simple and intuitive—Sopeap and Sang Ly discuss the poem she brought. Sang Ly explains the origin of the poem, where Narin grew up, and how Narin’s mother taught the poem to her. In response, Sopeap tells Sang Ly that poetry is even older than written history, originating from a time when people passed down their history and knowledge orally. Sopeap notes the structure and pattern of the poem, and Sang Ly feels ashamed for not having recognized them herself.
Now that Sang Ly is beyond simply learning how to read, the story takes many opportunities to teach the reader about literature alongside Sang Ly. In this regard, Sang Ly’s position as the narrator is apt, since the reader can come to the same realizations that she does and join her on her own personal journey of discovery.
Themes
Sopeap asks Sang Ly if the poem is literature or not, and Sang Ly tries to point out the structure and pattern that Sopeap showed her. However, the teacher grows angry and irritated at this, saying that if Sang Ly doesn’t know why the poem matters to her personally, there is no point in studying. Both women are frustrated, but Sang Ly finally admits that she simply does not know what literature is. Sopeap, in turn, responds that Sang Ly does know, she just does not realize it yet. Turning to leave, Sopeap announces that despite her reservations, she will continue to teach Sang Ly about literature using some of the lessons she taught at university. However, they will need to move through them quickly, because Sopeap will soon be leaving Stung Meanchey.
Sopeap implies that the poem is indeed literature, and that poetry is a form of literature that predates writing itself. This furthers the argument that anything can be literature, even if it is not written down. This viewpoint defies the conventional concept of literature as written words contained in books or volumes, usually written by wealthy or sophisticated people long ago. Sopeap’s statement that she will soon leave Stung Meanchey is a veiled reference to her illness and explicitly foreshadows her death.
Themes
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