The Other Hand Essay

The use of symbolism is the best way to shed light on the darker or deeper messages of a text.

In the novel The other hand the author Chris Cleave uses many symbols to help convey the important themes of the novel. He forces people to examine the way we treat others and how society has made this seem acceptable. He also shows the brutality and injustice that happens without society realising, for the governments greed, he shows this through the symbol of Sarah’s missing finger. The colour grey was displayed throughout the novel and was used to symbolise Little Bees life and the lives of other refugees. Charlie’s batman costume symbolised identity and the way people like to conceal themselves especially after a big event.

Chris Cleave made people think about justice and how important it is to live in a country that has justice to make you feel safe, and not being able to feel safe is no way to live. He represents this injustice with Sarah’s missing finger. "White man been giving me this finger all my life. Today you can give it me to keep. Now cut off your middle finger mister and give it me." The killer on the beach wanted Andrew to cut his middle finger off so he could have it, to represent all the times Western men have been giving him the finger. The killer is offering a version of justice by offering to keep the girls alive in exchange for Andrews finger. This also shows the readers how the men on the beach don’t know what justice is and that their country no longer has any justice after Little Bees family and village was all killed and the once beautiful land was destroyed for a Western oil company. Sarah’s own personal justice also changed after cutting her finger off it effected the way she lives. "Do you really want me to make a choice like that? I cut off my own bloody finger. Do you think I wouldn't cut you off too?" She has decided that her self justice is the most important part to become truly happy. The missing finger is a constant reminder of...