Question

How does the motif of wishing apply to each of the story’s major characters: Yoni, Sergei, and the goldfish? What is similar and different about their wishes?

Answer 1

In narration, a motif is any recurring element that is important to the story.

So, from the story, the motif of wishing applies to the major characters in different ways.

For Yoni, he wishes for success, Sergei wishes for a friend, while the goldfish wants freedom.

The similar thing about their wishes is that they want all wish for what will bring satisfaction and contentment to their lives and it is different because they all have different wishes, as no wish is the same.