New York City

New York City is symbolic of possibility. Before relocating from China, Tony perceives New York to be the proverbial land where dreams come true. Although it requires him to sacrifice his life, work, and reputation in Dalian, Tony believes that moving to New York will afford his family all of the opportunities they need to be happy.

The Rosewood

The Rosewood is symbolic of status. Although no one knows the details of The Rosewood application process, all of The Rosewood residents are either famous or monied. Therefore, working at the Rosewood constantly reminds Tony that he is of a lower class than the people he serves. The building effectively underscores the power disparities between the characters.

Harvard

Harvard is symbolic of success. When Tony and Kim first start talking about going to the States, Tony tells Kim that some day their daughter can go...