What does hunger symbolize in the novel, American Dirt?

Hunger becomes symbolic both literally and metaphorically. The migrants must frequently go without food on their journey. Prior to traveling the desert, the group purposefully loads up on protein in preparation for the arduous trek. The opening lines from Neruda also allude to hunger. Additionally, the migrants’ hunger is figurative. They hunger for safety, security, and a better life. Lastly, the work references the president’s ironic moniker for migrants: “bad hambres” (235). He misspoke, attempting to call them bad hombres or bad men, instead he used the word for hunger. This unintentional statement symbolizes the two mischaracterizations of immigrants: the criminals and the destitute.