Matchbox Shoes — Chapter 13 Summary, Themes, and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens with Uncle Sen’s health deteriorating sharply. Although he had claimed to be recovering from tuberculosis, he now spends most of his days bedridden, feverish, and coughing so violently that he wakes the household at night. Despite his condition, he retains a dark sense of humor, repeatedly joking about slaughtering the family dog, Lucky, for dinner. He warns the narrator that in the city, only wealthy people keep dogs, and that when the Communist army arrives, they will see Lucky as a symbol of bourgeois indulgence.
The narrator observes that Lucky is no pampered pet. The dog hunts rats, eats garbage, and serves as a vigilant protector. In the past, stray dogs and cats roamed Qingdao’s streets, but now starving beggars have eaten them all. People trap rats and sift through sewers for food. Lucky’s barking proves invaluable: it warns the family when cadres like Comrade Lao approach, giving them time to hide or prepare. The narrator recalls that Lucky’s warning saved her from being taken away earlier.
While Mom searches for work, Lan stays with Uncle Sen, and the narrator and Di scavenge at the markets. They compete with hundreds of other children and beggars for scraps, dodging vendors who chase them away with ladles and spatulas. Fights break out over trash piles, and children guard their territories. The narrator has a confrontation with a boy who charges at her; Lucky intervenes, snapping at the boy’s heel and driving him off. The narrator learns to avoid that stall.
The narrator and Di are not ideal foraging partners because they eat whatever they find. The narrator scolds Di, reminding her they must save food for Mom, who is breastfeeding Lan and needs extra nourishment. The narrator collects bones and meat scraps to bring home for broth. Despite the filth, the children often get diarrhea but rarely become seriously ill. They share everything with Uncle Sen, who occasionally gives them items to sell on the black market—though his fancy fountain pens and antique scrolls fetch almost nothing.
Mom buys flour and brown sugar to make sweet breakfast buns. The narrator takes a wheelbarrow of buns to a busy street to sell them, dealing with a jumble of currencies. She thinks about the gold tael Mom keeps hidden in her undergarments and wishes Mom would sell it, though she had earlier scolded Di for criticizing Mom’s decision to hold onto the jewelry.
One day, Mom runs to the narrator, excitedly asking for the wheelbarrow. She has found a job at a match factory, which remains open because matches are in high demand. The hiring manager, Manager Fa, has reserved all positions for people with the surname Fa. Without hesitation, Mom claims, “My last name is Fa!” She becomes “Ms. Fa” and receives printed paperboard to fold into matchboxes. The family—Mom, Di, and the narrator—folds boxes together, quickly becoming proficient. Manager Fa pays in corn flour: two thousand matchboxes per kilogram. The family barters the flour or makes corn bread to sell.
The chapter ends with a rare moment of joy: Mom presents the narrator with a pair of flimsy black cloth shoes with rubber soles, traded at the street market. The narrator’s feet are callused from walking barefoot, but these shoes are a purchased indulgence—something not scavenged but bought for her.
Key Events
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Uncle Sen’s health declines; he becomes bedridden and feverish.
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The narrator and Di scavenge for food at markets, competing with other children.
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Lucky protects the narrator from a hostile boy and warns the family of approaching cadres.
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Mom finds work at a match factory by falsely claiming the surname Fa.
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The family folds matchboxes for payment in corn flour.
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Mom trades for a pair of black cloth shoes for the narrator.
Character Development
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The narrator (Hai): She grows more resourceful and protective, learning to navigate the dangerous world of scavenging. She also wrestles with conflicting feelings about Mom’s decision to keep the gold tael, showing her internal struggle between practicality and loyalty.
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Mom: Demonstrates remarkable adaptability and sacrifice. She lies about her surname to secure work, endures the physical strain of carrying paperboard on her damaged feet, and prioritizes her children’s comfort by buying shoes for the narrator.
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Uncle Sen: Despite his illness, he remains a source of dark humor and occasional guidance, though his health limits his role.
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Di: Shows her youth and impulsiveness by eating scavenged food immediately, but also participates in the family’s collective effort.
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Lucky: Emerges as a loyal protector and a practical asset, not just a pet. His vigilance saves the family from potential danger.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Survival scavenging: The chapter vividly depicts the lengths to which people go for food—fighting over trash, eating vermin, and sifting through sewers.
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Food scarcity: The constant hunger shapes every decision, from foraging to bartering to the matchbox work.
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Identity deception: Mom’s false claim to the surname Fa highlights how survival can require abandoning one’s true identity.
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Maternal sacrifice: Mom’s willingness to lie, work, and forgo her own comfort for her children is a central motif.
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Class divide: The contrast between the affluent who discard food and the starving poor who fight for it underscores the social inequality of the era.
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Currency instability: The mix of currencies and the use of corn flour as payment reflect the economic chaos of the time.
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Dog as protector: Lucky symbolizes loyalty and vigilance, serving as a guardian against both physical threats and political surveillance.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the novel’s exploration of survival under Communist rule and economic collapse. It shows how ordinary families adapt through deception, piecework, and scavenging, while also revealing the emotional costs of such struggles. The matchbox episode illustrates the precarious nature of work and the ingenuity required to secure even the most basic necessities. The purchase of the shoes is a poignant moment of maternal love and a rare instance of normalcy amid hardship. The chapter also reinforces the importance of family bonds and the role of a protective animal in a world where trust is scarce.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Mom lie about her surname to get the match factory job?
Mom lies because Manager Fa has reserved all positions for people from the Fa family. By claiming to be a Fa, she secures work that would otherwise be unavailable. This act of deception is a pragmatic survival strategy, showing that in desperate times, identity can be bent to meet immediate needs.
2. How does Lucky contribute to the family’s survival beyond being a pet?
Lucky serves as a protector and early warning system. He barks when cadres approach, alerting the family to potential danger. He also defends the narrator from a hostile boy at the market, demonstrating his practical value in a hostile environment.
3. What does the narrator’s reaction to the new shoes reveal about her character?
The narrator’s joy at receiving the shoes shows her appreciation for a rare purchased item, contrasting with the scavenged goods she usually wears. It also highlights her awareness of her mother’s sacrifice and the emotional significance of a gift bought with hard-earned wages.
Navigation
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Next Chapter: Chapter 15 Summary