In the movie, I also thought some of the characters were symbols or allegories. For my first example I felt that Mai, Binh’s biological mother, was an allegory for the “reality of the dream” if you will. What I mean by that is she works for the “Big House” opposed to being on the streets or working in a run-down restaurant, so she has a “high” position or job; however, in reality she is still like a servant or slave. Many Asians wish to come to America because they see this higher form of living when America-for Asians- is not really that great. Also, Mai’s boss’s son (I cannot recall his name) to me is seen as the government. He has the power and feels he has the “right” to do what he pleases to Mai. Which in turn, is the government thinking that because these Asians are in America, they have the right to give or take whatever they want from the Asians. In addition to that, I saw Ling as an allegory for the Asians who’s American dream did work out. At the beginning of the movie Ling says that she’s “dead on the inside” and so thats why she can careless about her ways of prostitution. I feel that many Asians have felt that way if they do not want to live in their own home country. Then at the end of the movie she tells Binh, “Tam is dead. You’re alive. I’m alive.” At this point, she is somewhat a singer and she is seeing this other guy Jerry. She has a job she loves to do, she finds “love,” and she finally sees herself as the star she knew she was. Obviously Binh loves her and he tells her that she does not love him and she kisses him then leaves. That moment she walks away from him, is (to me) symbolic of Asians walking away from their past, their homeland, and conforming to the new American ways.

I do not think that any of these allegories are purely accurate, but I do think that they stand for more than just the characters they play. Overall the movie was very enjoyable and eye-opening since it’s different from reading it from a book and actually seeing it happen.