What does the man have in common with other passengers on the ship? What is the narrative purpose of the drawing showing the birds flying above the boat?
Like the man, the other passengers on the ship are refugees.
The birds flying above the ship are similar to the origami birds the man makes. These birds not only symbolize the man’s
culture, but over the course of the novel, they become a symbol of culture in general. The origami bird is natural to the man’s homeland, and he finds comfort in its familiarity. Thus, the figure of the origami bird becomes associated with the man’s identity, something that belongs to him, even as he everything around him changes. The man's ability to share his culture others, through the origami birds, allows him to show people a piece of his home country, and in turn, a piece of himself.
The Arrival
