my essay

Today, people always seem to be “guided” in their actions. For example, different coaches guide athletes on their road to success. People like these can relate to Xing Xing in the book Bound. Throughout Bound, Xing Xing is “guided” in her actions by a variety of people and animals, each of which contributes to her growth as a person.
Spirits are one thing that guides Xing Xing in her actions. One spirit that guides Xing Xing is her fish mother. Xing Xing believes that the big carp in the river by the cave is a reincarnation of her real mother, who died when Xing Xing was seven years old. “She turned her head and rested her cheek, instead, on her knees, so that she could look at the fish while she talked to the spirit of her mother.” This spirit guides her because she always knows that her fish mother is there for her, as she feels like she has a special relationship with her.
Animals are another thing that guides Xing Xing. Xing Xing’s fish mother also is an animal. Another animal that guides Xing Xing are the raccoon kits. “Xing Xing untied the hunting cloth from around her waist. She put the rock in it and slung it hard at a kit. The little thing didn’t even let out a cry.” This is when Xing Xing kills the kits for meat for Wei Ping, even though she didn’t want too. They guided her because the kits were blind, meaning Xing Xing could easily kill them.
People are one last thing that helps Xing Xing through her actions. One person that helps her is Yao Wang, a doctor that she found in the city. Yao Wang helped her by giving her medicine to cure Wei Ping, which worked. “The balm Yao Wang gave her had to work.”
Without some of the guidance Xing Xing received, who knows how the book would have turned out. I learned that you never know what guidance you will receive.