Major themes in the novel Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress include coming of age and friendship. Luo and the narrator are two boys are sent to be reeducated in a remote mountain village. They are separated from their families and everything that is familiar to them. Because of this radical change in their lives, the boys have been forced to grow up quickly and assume more responsibility. Despite this big change in their lives, the narrator and Luo still struggle to come into their own throughout the book. The experiences they go through continue to help them mature and gain of understanding of who they are.
Friendship is another theme in Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. Luo and the narrator have a strong relationship. They have been friends since they were small children. Together, they have grown and matured. Because of their long standing relationship, Luo and the narrator know each other better than anyone else. The effect that their reeducation has on their friendship continues to be a focus of the novel.
