Paradise Of The Blind Food Essay

Duong Thu Huong’s Paradise of the Blind narrates Hang, a Vietnamese woman’s past life. She begins to reflect on her childhood while on a train back to Moscow. In the novel Huong uses many different motifs, which help present ideas in the novel. One of the most frequently used motifs of the novel was the constant mention of food. The constant description and reference of food in the novel deepens the Vietnamese connection between food and love. In Vietnam food is especially important, as it is a sign of love, class and culture. Food is used as a direct comparison of a person’s wealth. Huong uses food to contrast the poor and rich lives of characters and the self-sacrifice associated with food and love. In the novel Paradise of the Blind, Duong

Aunt Tam worked continuously to earn her place in her village. “She piled each of the hampers full of gifts: one plate of sticky rice flavored with rose-apple juice, one slice of the thin pâté, two pounds of cooked meat, a few bananas”(163). In the Vietnamese culture meat is a sign of wealth. In each passage of Aunt Tams dinners meat is in the description. By associating Aunt Tam with meat, Huong is making a direct connection between food and wealth. She frequently gave food away to others who need it more than her. An important part of the Vietnamese culture is selflessness. This passage highlights the kindness and generosity of Aunt Tam through food. “An enormous plate heaped with five kinds of fruit formed a centerpiece. Behind it were offerings of cakes […] Aunt Tam pondered her choice among bottles of lemon, orange, plum, and coffee brandy”(73). The word “pondered” gives Aunt Tam a freedom of options, a freedom that restricts poor families. The imagery of the surplus of food Aunt Tam has is a direct depiction of her wealth. The lack of food at Mother Que’s house compared to the amount of food at Aunt Tams juxtaposes wealth and