Snow Flower And Lily Dialectical Journal

Level 2 or 3 questions: Quote: Analysis:

If we are able to control our own fate, then what stops us from controlling the balance of life? “There is no life without death. This is the true meaning of yin and yang” (See, page 99). Yin and yang symbolize two complementary forces that can’t exist without one another and serve a greater purpose beyond the two alone. Throughout the novel it is shown that the main characters, Lily and Snow flower, genuinely struggle with knowing the reasons behind their good and bad moments. They soon realize that it’s just the way of life and there is a balance between the two. This is also true in our lives. It is common to think we have the ability to avoid the bad situations in life, but we are wrong. We have no control over the balance of life. The yin yang symbol is also a metaphor for the two laotongs. Snow Flower and Lily keep one another balanced. Without each other they seemed to be hopeless, but, together, they are greater than they could ever be on their own.

If there were no books or records of previous existence, would life be different?

Snow Flower and Lily, as laotongs, begin their friendship as strong and long-lasting. In their later years when they experience a misunderstanding and Lily becomes really hurt by it, she keeps her distance from Snow Flower for many years. Lily believes her fate is sealed, not knowing she has the power to change it. After she realizes that it’s not too late, she becomes reunited with Snow Flower on Snow Flower’s last days. Lily reflects upon her decisions and realizes that she was the one wrong and that nothing is worth losing a friendship that is this special. Life is not predestined. Life is based upon the choices we make, who we interact with, and how we react to things. It is never too late to redirect our lives onto the right path, the hardest part is admitting when you’re