Sacrificing For the Next Generation

Sacrificing for the next generation is the driving motivational force behind the protagonists in each novella, demonstrating an indisputable importance to one generation's willingness to sacrifice and provide for future generations. In "The Years, Months, Days," the Elder strives to keep a lone corn stalk alive so that when the villagers return, they will have seeds to start their next harvest. The Elder comments that "Eventually the rains would finally come, the villagers would return to the village, and they would be able to use this bowl of corn seeds for sowing" (30-31). This comment shows readers that he wants to grow this corn stalk so that he will be able to provide the future villagers with sustenance so that they will be able to continue living in this region once it begins to be prosperous again. The author is able to...