In her book, Ratner conveys that humans can survive despite all difficulties because they possess instinct and humanity that forces them to move on. When the protagonist comes to her homeland, she sees that two distinct groups, perpetrators and victims, learn to live together using their beliefs to overcome some struggles. They express humility with their situation and never renounce their religion, which unites them regardless of their social groups and statuses: “Who among us, dear old man, has not been touched by tragedy?” (Ratner, 2017, p.21). Their belief in the better also facilitates their survival as people think that if they are destined to survive, they will succeed: “It was their shared belief that after what they had been through, they’d overcome anything” (Ratner, 2017, p.25). Moreover, survivors help each other in difficult situations. For example, the Old Musician, a homeless elder, receives support from the local people near Wat Nagara, a temple. They provide him with food, shelter, and clothes. Through these figures, the author illustrates the generosity of survivors, which helps them to survive.
The novel’s protagonist, Teera, immerses several times in long-buried memories to reminisce about her father. Collective memory examples include Teera and Old Musician’s memories when they hear traditional Cambodian music played on a lute, an oboe, and a drum. When it comes to individual memory of Teera’s childhood, the author explains the connection between her memories of her father and musical instruments: “Perhaps it’s because as a child she grew up listening to her father trying to master it” (Ratner, 2017, p. 35). For the Old Musician, nature’s visual elements force him to recall his daughter: “the world appears… vaporous as a child’s etching on a fogged surface” (Ratner, 2017, p.69). These two examples of individual memory share strong emotions: love and missing loved ones.
Reference
Ratner, V. (2017). Music of the Ghosts. Simon & Schuster. Web.