“We are afraid of the things we do not know—just because we do not know them.”
The idea of overcoming fear is a motif that occurs several times in the story, particularly through the protagonist, Tree-ear. He has to deal with hard labor and Min’s hot temper daily which is a source of fear, as he is not certain if it will eventually pay. But most significant is the strenuous journey that he has to undertake alone by foot to secure the commission for Min’s pottery. He has to face unforeseen dangers, violence, and weariness with the hope of getting a commission that is not guaranteed. Furthermore, he is a child seeking a sense of family and belonging among people he does not know but is determined to know. The quotation applies to the initial fear Tree-ear and Crane-man had of wild animals in the area but stretches to multiple junctures in his own life.
“Tree-ear has taken his first step toward his dream. Realizing a dream can be very hard, though. Sometimes, a dream can seem so far away, it almost disappears.”
Tree-ear’s journey in pursuing his passion for pottery begins from a place that is uncertain and seems impossible. He has to take lessons from Min after damaging his works but it seems like a pipe dream the more Min does not give him the chance. Tree-ear exhibits willpower and character that is beyond his years and seeks formulae to succeed in his quest. He has to suffer through hard labor from an individual who is not willing to teach him pottery due to custom. Realizing his dream is just a small part of it, as he has to learn new pottery skills clandestinely. Also has to prove himself by taking the journey to convince the emissary to offer the commission even when he arrives without the intact work.
“How much slower the work went when the joy of it was gone.”
A sense of family and pottery skills is all the protagonist wants but it proves to be such a task than it would appear. Tree-ear offers himself to be an apprentice to Min and gives it his all to prove his worthiness. However, due to their custom Min denies him the chance to learn from him because he is not his biological son. This disappoints Tree-ear to the point of losing the initial passion he harbored for pottery. His nature is aligned with the idea of overcoming obstacles and that is what he does by refusing to give in to Min’s indifference.
