Toll of the Sea follows the story of Allan Karver, an American man, and Lotus Flower, a Chinese woman. The film follows the tragic love story of the two which ends in Allan abandoning Lotus. One preset theme in the film is the unsuccessful assimilation of the orient into western culture. This was a common theme in The Cheat shown by Arakaus clothes. In a similar fashion, this theme is also depicted through the clothes of Lotus. Allan firms his decision to leave Lotus when he sees her western-style dress that is out of date. Allan's actions show that he truly views Lotus as disposable and replaceable. He even returns to his old lover, Beatrice Bentley, an American woman. Another strong theme that is apparent in nearly all of these films is orientalism. The dress scene depicts is the Western creation of division and superiority over the orient. Lotus being abandoned shows Allan, a symbol of western culture, in a position of power and depicts Lotus, a symbol of the orient culture, as inferior. Lastly, the themes of Asians being depicted as exotic objects are also prevalent in this film. Allan and his friends show this theme through the conversations they have about Lotus in which they directly compare her to American women and convince Allan not to bring her to America.
