The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang - Analysis + a lil bit of rambling
*four point five/five*
yall. this book. thissss booook. i stan. i stan so hard. it JUST FELT SO GOOD!!! GOOD!!! RADADADADADA!!! wow ok sorry i just realized that this book is the living embodiment of i did something bad by taylor swift??? i could def see rin bopping along to rep. k but this book is just like FLAMES and DRUGS and MAGIC and i LOVE IT. and rin is so relatable it hurts? like i too crave praise and appreciation more than is probably healthy. like girl same. anyways. this book is great go read it. onto some more ahem coherent thoughts that i def didn't write for a school paper.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang is a rich historical fantasy taking place in an empire based of early China. Rin, an impoverished war orphan from the South, was sixteen years old when she aced the Empire-wide test called the Keju, and was accepted into Sinegard, the most prestigious military school in the land. Rin slowly rises to the top of her class in spite of being discriminated against for her status, color, and gender, all the while uncovering a proficiency for the mythical art of shamanism. However, their empire is on the brink of another war, and Rin’s powers may be the only way to win it. But as she learns more about the source of her powers, namely the dangerous god behind them, she soon learns that saving her people could come with a cost. R.F. Kuang utilizes characterization, theme, and imagery to show how far Rin is willing to go, give her a goal to strive towards, and express mood.
Characterization to show the lengths Rin will go to in order to achieve what she wants. When Rin learns of her foster parent’s plans to marry her off in order to further their crime business, she dedicates the next two years to learning and studying for the Keju in order to secure a place in a school and prevent being married. Kuang writes, “She had bribed a teacher. She had stolen opium. She had burned herself, lied to her foster parents, abandoned her responsibilities at the store, and broken a marriage deal. And she was going to Sinegard,” (P. 25). By indirectly characterizing Rin as extremely driven and dedicated, it shows just how far she is willing to go to succeed, and what exactly is important to her. This aspect of her characterization is especially important to the rest of the plotline, as Rin’s willingness to do whatever it takes may end up either winning the war and saving her people, or condemning the nation and and stripping away her humanity.
An important theme in The Poppy War is one of validation. This is established to show what fuels Rin, what makes her “tick”, and most of all, what she strives towards. An example of this theme can be shown in the line, “She could be brilliant, could be worth someone’s attention. She adored praise-craved it, needed it, and realized she found relief only when she finally had it, (P. 95). Additionally, apart from giving Rin a purpose, the idea of validation also attempts to be a way for readers to connect with the story. It makes a fictional character appear more relatable and lifelike by having her struggle with a ongoing desire for praise and validation.
Imagery is employed within the text in order to convey mood. R.F. Kuang writes, “She felt a tearing sensation, as if it were being ripped from her gut, from somewhere inside her. It coursed through her, not harming her but immobilizing her. It used her as a conduit. She controlled the flame no more than the wick of a candle might; it rallied to her and enveloped her,” (P. 252). This passage, while also “painting a picture”, works to evoke a feeling of being powerless. The imagery attempts to transpose the lack of control that Rin is feeling in the minds of the readers. The mood conveyed through the detailed descriptions is one of powerlessness, used to allow a deeper glimpse into Rin’s emotions in a time of great significance.
Through the use of characterization, theme, and imagery, R.F. Kuang shows how far Rin is willing to go, gives her a goal to strive towards, and expresses mood. The Poppy War is a spellbinding novel that deserved nine-out-of-ten stars. Though playing off an overused trope of a miserable orphan granted entrance to a magical school, Kuang brings something new and special to the table that will keep thousands captivated. The worldbuilding is exceedingly intricate, the characters are lifelike and memorable, and the messages conveyed all important.