Lisbet

Lisbet represents Shelley’s reliance on others for his future. While he says that he is leaving China and his family behind, he is still bound to his desire to be with Lisbet. This pushes him to focus on becoming a poet. Not because he necessarily wants to, but because he feels that dream is the only way he can be happy. Over time, Shelley is forced to confront his love for Lisbet and decide if living for a potential future with her is truly what he wants out of his life. This is also why Lisbet is, ironically, responsible for Shelley meeting his wife Sarafina. Once he let Lisbet go, he opened himself up to truly fall in love.

The Fisherman

The fisherman in “The Story of the Peach Blossom” is a representation of Shelley and his journey. When he first tells the story, Shelley...