Bento Box In The Heartland Analysis

In hopes of securing a more prosperous life, many Asian immigrant families endure the challenges of communal adjustment and struggle to meet the basic needs for survival. Immigrants make desperate efforts to resettle and adapt to a new culture, only to be hindered by issues with social acceptance. They often encounter ethnic discrimination, alienation from the majority, and ridicule for their inexperience with the primary language of the foreign country. Despite the seemingly endless onslaught of hardships, immigrants found relief and solace in culinary traditions. Food served as a means of escape from the difficulties of assimilation and allowed them to take comfort in their cultural heritage. In Bento Box in the Heartland, The Fortune Cookie …show more content…
She suggests that food could also eliminate social divisions between the “superior” and “inferior” classes. Truong utilizes the combination of “butter,” “watercress,” and “salt-and-pepper shrimp” to demonstrate the possibility of collaboration (97). Butter is a common ingredient that is featured in many French dishes, while watercress and shrimp frequent Vietnamese cuisine. All three ingredients by themselves present simple and unappealing tastes; however, together, those components can develop an explosion of flavor. By working together, the ingredients offer a multitude of experiences: saltiness, bitterness, and a cool sensation. Similarly, food can offer opportunities of collaboration that dismantles social barriers. Food unifies different people by providing them with a commonality. It stimulates communication, establishing a more comprehensive connection within a community. By communicating through the language of food, people can obtain a better understanding of other’s struggles and develop a tolerance for those with unique …show more content…
Food has transformed to become a medium for remembrance and self-expression. The evolution of food journals the struggles of immigrants, the development of identity, and the consideration of change towards equality. When one is alienated or restricted from embracing one’s self, cooking offers an escape from societal issues and empowers the indulgence of identity. Food encourages struggling immigrants to rise above the difficulties instead of being swallowed by weakness and resentment towards the situation. It has evolved into a revolutionary movement that invites liberation from social constraints and has the potential to initiate