Sometimes stories are not all they appear to be, unless someone deeply analyzes them. That is the beauty of a well-written story with hidden knowledge and secret meanings beneath the words. Reading Saving Sourdi, by May-Lee Chai, the character of the protagonist Nea seems to be a static character because she appears at first to not change her behavior or attitude. However, upon further analyzing she proves to be a dynamic character who maintains her personality while undergoing a dramatic shift in perspective. This can be observed by Nea’s toughness, impulsivity and loyalty to her sister despite her lack of understanding regarding her sister’s choices.
Almost throughout the story, Nea remains tough and resilient. When she was eleven years old, she stabbed a man to “protect” her older sister (Chai 181). She did not even feel bad about it, saying, “what I didn’t tell Sourdi was that I was still a wicked girl. I was glad I’d stabbed that man,” (183). Also, throughout the story she drinks and smokes. “I took out the pack of cigarettes I’d stolen from Ma’s purse and lit one,” …show more content…
After she stabbed the man, she told her sister, “I was trying to protect you...I was trying to save you,” (183). Later, she remembers a fond memory of her and Sourdi when they were little. She remembers, even then, that “I would walk on bones for my sister, I vowed. I would put my bare feet on rotting flesh. I would save Sourdi,” (191). However, as previously noted, Sourdi did not need saving. Nea does, in fact, change throughout Saving Sourdi, even though it seems like she remains the same. At the end of the story, she is probably still tough, maybe not as impulsive, but a loyal little sister because she realizes that she needs to let go of her hold on her older sister and let her live her life. Saving Sourdi is an interesting and compelling story because it shows that one action can leave such an impact to another