Thursday, May 28, 2015
Eye of the Plum
In the chapter, "Stealing Buddhas Dinner", Bich says that she is a believer of Buddha and his teachings of reincarnation. Although she respects the Vietnamese culture, she persists in taking the fruit that was placed on the alter beside the Buddha statue. After doing so she eats the plum while sitting in a plum tree and leaves the seed, which looked like an eye, on the tree and departs. The seed is symbolic because it was left as an offering to her past ancestors as described on page 196, "I imagined it carried off by the wind, or by my ancestors' spirits, coming to collect the meager offering i had left behind " (Nguyen, 196). Therefore, although she took the offering from the alter, she indulged in the plums goodness and left an offering in return. This is a symbolic experience in Bich's life because it expresses a level of respect and understanding for her culture.
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ReplyDeleteI think that it's interesting that Bich chooses to eat the plum. Perhaps this has something to do with the idea of reincarnation, in which plum itself has changed into another form, such as Bich's more mature self. As Bich eats the plum both she and the fruit are transformed from a simple, surface-level existence. Her actions lay the groundwork for a deeper understanding of how to internalize Buddhist values as she gains awareness of the meaning of personal sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteBy Brianna C.
I found it ironic that Bich tries to eat all this American junk food in a desperate attempt to become something she's not, only to eat a plum and begin to accept who she is. By Rebecca B.
ReplyDeleteI also found it to be interesting and sort of life changing that Bich decided to eat the plum when she knew that it was not to be touched. I think that it was her eating away her fleshly wants, and confusion. the sour outer layer of the plum is confusing, and harsh exterior, and into the succulent sweetness that she has within her right down to the pit, the pit being her core. It is herself looking back at her, a new wizened eye. It is a form of herself that she sees reflected back in her ancestors. BY: Stephanie B.
ReplyDeleteI think you present an interesting and extremely important event that happens in the book, and I find that it fits really well with Stephanie B.'s interpretation of the plum's symbolism. When I read this scene, I didn't really understand why the plum was so important - why was a wizened little plum center so life-changing for her? It's a nice double-meaning for the plum to symbolize not only a new-found respect and understanding for her Vietnamese side, but it also has the added symbolism of paralleling her journey to the plum. Put together, perhaps it is because there so is much symbolism in the plum that it makes her whole epiphany that much more profound where the American food just rejects one entire side of her, so she never is completely full.
ReplyDeleteBy Norma G.
I found that part of the memoir to be very interesting, especially since the title of the book, Stealing Buddha’s Dinner, is derived from that chapter. At first I thought it was a sign of disrespect to take the fruit, and from many aspects it can be, but it also does show a sign of communion between Bich and her ancestors. Since Bich is a child when the event takes place, it is very comical to read about Bich as a child child stealing a plum because it shows how young she was and how much she knew. There is nothing wrong with testing one’s beliefs, even if that is eating a plum. Leaving the core was very comical, in my opinion, because she still wanted to leave something behind for her ancestors. I can imagine Bich waiting behind the counter looking for her ancestor's facial expressions.
ReplyDeleteBy Angel D.
I agree with your analysis of the scene. Though it was confusing for me at first, I later found that the eating of the plum represents her cultural awakening since its the turning point of the book. Buddhism is based on the experience of the Four Noble Truths that lead to one enlightenment, or in Bich's case a cultural realization. After the eating of the plum she starts to realize that American food isn't as appetizing as she thought it was. After eating this, she goes to Ponderosa and is disgusted by the steak and refuses to ever go to the restaurant to eat again. She also starts to become more involved in her Vietnamese culture by learning more about the Buddha. By the end of the memoir, she is able to proudly call herself Vietnamese American.
ReplyDeleteBy: Krystal M.