62 pages • 2 hours read
Immortal
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Symbols & Motifs
Divine Pearl Lotus
The Divine Pearl Lotus serves as a symbol of Earning Rather than Demanding Devotion. The lotus symbolizes the ultimate power—to be cured from any illness or ailment—much the way a throne represents ultimate power over a kingdom. Just as the lotus can only be given with a willing heart, Liyen believes that loyalty and devotion also can only be given willingly, not demanded. Liyen’s grandfather introduces the lotus, telling her that it “is the antidote to what you suffer […] as long as you want to live” (6). This passage establishes the connection between the lotus’s purpose and the willpower of the individual wielding it. It is more than a magic, physical cure. It is a manifestation of personal agency, meaning that the change it invokes has to also be enabled by the person wielding it.
The concepts that govern the lotus’s use mirror Liyen’s attitude toward her rule. She does not inherit the lotus, but her grandfather freely gives it to her. While she also inherits the throne, her people do not simply accept her rule, challenging her until she earns their support. Liyen becomes a ruler that is chosen by her people, just as she is chosen as the host for the lotus. Lord Zhangwei’s initial failure to extract the lotus from Liyen further highlights its symbolic meaning. Despite his physical strength and desperation, he cannot claim the lotus by force because it is not given by Liyen’s willing heart. Ultimately, the lotus reinforces the novel’s central argument—that power and devotion must be earned and freely given rather than demanded or seized by force.
Wall Around Tianxia
The wall around Tianxia was erected as a manner of protection, but following the war with the Wuxin, it comes to symbolize Tianxia’s continuous connection to the immortals. Thus, its continued presence reveals the imbalance of power between mortals and immortals, serving as both a physical and metaphorical barrier to Tianxia’s freedom. Initially, Liyen believes that the wall was built to “conceal [them] from the outside, to protect [them] from those who desired [their] secrets” (18). However, she soon realizes that it not only keeps external threats out but also keeps Tianxia’s people in. The wall represents the immortals’ control, reinforcing the kingdom’s connection to Queen Caihong long after the war’s end. Despite the original agreement that “once this threat was vanquished, [Tianxia’s] obligation would be fulfilled” (40), the immortals have yet to bring down the wall, demonstrating their reluctance to relinquish control. As Liyen works to earn Tianxia’s independence, the wall’s destruction becomes a symbol of freedom from the servitude the treaty compels. Ultimately, the wall serves as a reminder that protection without freedom is nothing more than a cage, and true sovereignty can only be reclaimed when the barriers of oppression are torn down.
Memories
As they are referenced throughout the novel, memories represent characters’ personal histories, identity, and sense of self. They serve as the building blocks of who people are by capturing experiences, relationships, and moments that shape their understanding of the present and guide their future actions. They also connect characters to their loved ones. One of the novel’s most profound discussions of memory occurs when the boatman of the Wangchuan River questions whether it is kinder to forget painful experiences rather than live with grief: “Memories are cherished when they bear joy, but what if one was never loved in return? What if you lost a loved one in a great tragedy? Wouldn’t it be kinder to forget?” (430). This moment highlights the dual nature of memories—they are both a source of comfort and a reminder of loss. However, Zhangwei asserts their ultimate value, stating, “All memories have worth. They form our character, give our lives meaning. Even the parts that hurt” (430). Given Zhangwei’s experience losing time with his love, Liyen, due to her lost memories, his reasons for this belief are clear. His perspective reinforces the idea that even painful memories contribute to a person’s identity, shaping who they are and how they love.
For Liyen, memories are more than just recollections; they are the ties that bind her to the people she loves. She resists the possibility of forgetting her mortal life as she forgot her immortal life before, recognizing that her experiences in both the mortal and immortal realms are equally meaningful. She notes that “Sometimes it wasn’t the number of years that gave a bond its significance, but how deeply it marked one’s heart” (432), suggesting her time in both realms has taught her that a memory’s worth is the depth of emotional impressions it leaves behind. Where she threw memories away as an immortal because she had eternity to remake them, her time as a mortal taught her their value. The memories she shares with those who have died cannot be remade, and their impact on who she is cannot be replicated. Her decision to hold onto those memories suggests the value she places on the connections that defined her mortal journey. Ultimately, the novel suggests that memories, whether joyful or painful, are intrinsic to one’s identity.
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