Question

In at least 100 words, explain the relationship of the characters to the carp throughout Wang's "The Carp."

Answer 1

 In "The Carp," by Yun Wang, the use of the carp to represent something deeper is an example of Synecdoche. The carp is used to represent the pain and injustice of her father’s imprisonment. “The Carp is dedicated to Wang’s father, and many of the poems in her little book tell stories from that period.

Answer 2

Throughout the poem, the significance of the carp changes, as well as the relationship of the characters to the carp. In the first section, we learn about the 20 pound carp. This symbolizes luck, good fortune and hope. The relationship of the characters to it is a positive one.

However, as the story continues, the carp turns into a negative symbol when we learn about Confucius's son. He was named "carp," but he died, representing bad luck.

The carp continues to be a negative symbol as the author tells us about how his father was betrayed. We see that those who loved the father but turned against him tasted the carp. Towards the end, the carp's meaning is one of negativity, representing pain and humiliation, and the relationship between the characters and the carp is one of betrayal and sadness.