Throughout the poem, the relationship of the characters to the carp changes. In the first section, we learn about the carp. It symbolizes luck, good fortune and hope. The relationship of the characters to it is a positive one.
However, as the story continues, the carp turns into a negative symbol when we learn about Confucius's son. He was named "carp," but he died, representing bad luck.
The carp continues to be a negative symbol as the author tells us about how his father was betrayed. We learn that the people who loved the father but turned against him tasted the carp. Towards the end, the carp represents pain and humiliation, and the relationship between the characters and the carp is one of betrayal and sadness.
