The Jade Peony Lesson Plan

What does Jung's jacket symbolize?

Jung inherits an old coat from Frank's father, Old Yuen, after Frank refuses the hand-me-down. The coat is far too big for Jung, fitting him "like a loose blanket." Instead of waiting for him to grow into it, the family and community come together to alter and transform the coat into a beautiful jacket that Jung takes great pride in. The collaborative nature of fixing up the jacket symbolizes the fact that Jung has overcome much of his painful past and integrated into a new, loving family/community. Frank shares a similarly traumatic family history as Jung, however, Frank has not been able to let go of the past, which is seen in...