Monday 6 September 2010

Chapter 10, the stranded freighter by Laurie Horner

Jim reaches the river and studies the scene he sees there. He looks at the buildings on the other side of the river and remembers his life before the war, which makes him realise how war had 'changed everything in [his] world so radically'. He gets a bit dillusional and starts to imagine the ship Idzumo as a cake that we would like to eat, which suggests he is very hungry. He seems very happy to see the ship, as if it's very most important thing in his world, which shows how much he has been caught up in the war.
For the next two days he stays at the waterfront in the hope that he will find a European or American that might be able to help him find his parents, but with no luck. he spends long periods of time wandering along the riverside, looking at the remaining ships, at the markets and quays and seaplanes and anything else that resides along the river, and sleeps in the back of the abandoned taxis. He tries to keep himself as healthy as possible.
He decides to acheive one of his dreams and go aboard the Idzumo while he has the chance, again hoping that he may be able to find his parents by doing. He gets excited by this and imagines himself as the Captain of the ship. As he is making his way, he notices a man in an American sailors clothes standing outside a house and a younger man rowing next ot the Idzumo in a dinghy. He acts surprisingly friendly towards them, and pictures them as 'his first passenger and crewman'. As he boards the ship, the sailor rows closer to him, asks him what he is up to, and then offers to help, which Jim accepts. This Shows Jim is still naive and immature because he doesn't know if he's safe, but it shows the desperation of his situation, because he is so pleased to meet an ally that he is willing to accept his help without seconds thoughts.
The sailor (frank) rows him back to shore and into his collier, which reminds Jim of his home. He feels quite positive about meeting the americans, because they increase his chance of finding his parents and getting out of Shanghai.
By the end of chapter 10, things are looking up for Jim. He appears to have found an ally, but the reader would be aprehensive about the situation because we don't much about Frank and Basie.

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