Languages

Languages represent truth, but do not necessarily guarantee it for everyone. Whoever understands language the best controls the truth. Robin learns this early in the novel when he must choose whether to tell the Chinese worker the truth about the English sailor’s bigotry or not. Over time, language becomes a type of weapon for the various people in power as translators themselves become the key to numerous conflicts and outcomes of disputes that change the course of the novel. The more Robin understands the languages of the world, the more control he has over the narrative and his own future.

Oxford

Oxford represents the duality of the world during the novel’s time period. It is a hub of education filled with some of the brightest minds making substantial progress. Yet, it is also entrenched in old ways, denying many worthy students from attending due...