49 pages • 1 hour read
Suzanne WeynThe Bar Code Tattoo
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2004A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Peppermint Gum
The peppermint gum that Mfumbe offers to Kayla whenever she is upset symbolizes an act of true empathy that is not feigned. The connection between the gum and Mfumbe, a resilient bar code resister, drives home the idea that bar code sympathizers are playing directly into the hands of the apathetic Global-1 corporation and adopting the same social disconnect and insensitive behaviors.
Mfumbe’s first gift of peppermint gum follows Kayla’s devastating conversation with her uncaring school counselor, Mr. Kerr, an avid supporter of the bar code tattoo. When he delivers world-shattering news to Kayla about art school, his tone is direct and unsympathetic, and his faux-pitying smile makes a mockery of empathy. Later, when Kayla tries Mfumbe’s gum, she realizes that the peppermint “did make her feel better, but maybe it was his concern that worked the trick” (11). This juxtaposition between Mfumbe’s genuine display of concern and Mr. Kerr’s contrived emotions demonstrates the negative impact that the bar code tattoo—and more generally, Global-1—has on the world.
Mfumbe once again offers peppermint gum to Kayla in the days following her father’s death by suicide. While her best friend, Amber is only concerned with Kayla’s upcoming 17th birthday and is eager for Kayla to get the bar code tattoo, Mfumbe is the only person to offer Kayla comfort after her father’s death. Kayla is “amazed […] that a person she hardly knew at all had seen her pain” (31). Only Mfumbe, who resists the tattoo, takes notice of her grief at school.
Slang
The slang used amongst Kayla’s teenage peers symbolizes the impact of technological and digital advancements on everyday life. Slang usually consists of old words that have been repurposed. Slang often represents the current time period and is representative of recent changes in society, especially in terms of technological and digital developments. During a conversation about her favorite subject, genetics, Allyson says, “Insurance companies could save millions of dollars by refusing to ensure people whose genetic code is less than final level” (110). Many others, including Kayla, use the term “final level” as an equivalent of “awesome,” “amazing,” or “top-tier.” “Final level” is also the term used for the last round of a video game. Given the prevalence of virtual reality simulations in everyday life, the term “final level” has been integrated heavily into teen language.
A few times in the novel, Kayla and her friends claim, “this crashes” or alternative phrases using the word “crash.” The author has created this phrase, which evokes the image of a “crashing” computer hard drive or a malfunctioning app, as an alternative for the common real-world slang phrase, “This sucks,” to indicate an undesirable situation. In computing, system crashes occur when programs stop functioning properly or exit suddenly. A system crash is always inconvenient, especially when it deletes unsaved work. This connotation carries over in the language that Kayla uses with her friends.
Psychic Abilities
Psychic abilities symbolize the strength of mind shared by bar code tattoo resisters. While Kayla’s visions initially suggest manifestation of the schizophrenia-prone genes found in her and her father’s genetic codes, they are eventually shown to represent the power of her mind. Kayla’s visions symbolize her independent thinking and the strength of her resistance to the bar code tattoo. Kayla’s visions of the future depict her storming Washington, D.C. with a large group of resisters to oppose the recent violations of their rights. These visions represent the resolute dedication Kayla finds for the cause.
In Kayla’s last vision, she recognizes Mfumbe’s supportive presence at her side in the crowd of resisters as they stand before Senator David Young in Washington, D.C. Young addresses the rebels with empowering words, “We can use the strength and energy of our minds to change our world” (245). Young explicitly expresses the importance of those who have developed psychic abilities, calling attention to their recent evolutionary changes, which will aid them in the uphill battle to come. While Global-1 is forcing many citizens to become compliant, the resisters remain resilient and strong-willed in their autonomy and non-conformity.
