The Gold Necklace

The gold necklace represents the theme of poverty as well as Suteera’s ties to Cambodia. The necklace represents the hardship and extreme poverty Suteera and Amara faced in their journey to leave Cambodia as refugees. It also represents Suteera’s ties to her homeland. Ratner introduces the necklace in the prelude and references it again in the Second Movement. Amara picks up the necklace on page 2 while she and Suteera wade through a field of bodies, and on page 3 she explains to Suteera that the “necklace would keep them alive” (3). Amara assumes once they get to Thailand and beyond they will need something to trade for food and shelter. In the end, they never end up needing or using the necklace, and Suteera considers it “a kind of talisman” (125).

Instruments

The instruments are a symbol of the motif of music, the themes of...