Losing the Way

Chapter 4

Term: maxim

At the beginning of chapter four, Per is still helping Le Ly with her travels. Le Ly fills with emotion that she does not know how to handle, but she composes herself and reminds herself to stay true to herself. She says this maxim to herself at the beginning of chapter four, "Lack of awareness breeds surprise, and surprise, panic. And panic is the enemy of survival."She reminds herself not to panic and everything else will come in stride. A maxim is a concise statement offering advice. Le Ly says this in order to offer internal advice to herself. As Le Ly looks at Per, her helpful companion, she notices that his face reminds her of an old boss and her first true love, Anh. Before Le Ly and her mother were employees to Anh's family, they had to first escape. Ky La was becoming very dangerous and ever since the accusations of Le Ly's betrayal, Le Ly was in more danger than before. Le Ly and her mother were able to escape in the middle of the night and were on their way to Saigon, a very modernized city. Le Ly and her mother were able to get a job working for her mother's friend. However, this friend had a son who was interested in Le Ly and ever since Le Ly's rape, she had shown hesitation toward other men. Her resistance to Thai, the boy interested in her, ultimately led to her unemployment. Le Ly's mother was very angry, but they were eventually able to find other work. They worked for Lien and Anh, a married couple, and tended to their two children. One evening when Le Ly had to stay up to ensure Anh arrived home safely from a late-night meeting, Anh began to show an interest in Le Ly; however, Le Ly began to show an interest in Anh as well. In fact, Anh and Le Ly were in love with each other. Anh had cheated on his wife, Lien, with Le Ly and Le Ly would later give birth to a son because of this. This chapter is when Le Ly's actions truly start to shape her future. Though no one except Le Ly knows she is pregnant, this will later affect her entire family. While reading this chapter, I was reminded that every decision I make will not only affect me. I must remember that I have to choose my actions wisely.