Family

Much of the novel’s drama is defined by familial strife, and the narrative illustrates such strife as being rooted in past conflict and in familial selfishness. For example, the novel introduces the characters of Bobby Han and Feng Fei thusly: “Said wife, Feng Fei, was ten years younger than her husband, who, if their shouting matches could be believed, tried to abandon his family as soon as his feet touched American soil” (26). This account is never concretely confirmed or denied by the novel. Regardless, this legacy of familial strife remains even after Bobby’s death, as Feng Fei is shown to often be in conflict with her two sons: Johnny and Jimmy. A main source of conflict is Feng Fei’s house, which Johnny and Jimmy wish to sell for a profit, reasoning that it is much too large for only one occupant. This conflict...