Eat A Bowl of Tea - Major Themes

Major Themes

Appearance vs. Reality:

• On the surface, Ben Loy appears like a "good boy", yet he is covering up secrets of a promiscuous past.
• Mei Oi is from China and therefore is expected to be good, courteous, and understanding; instead she resumes the behavior of a jook sing girl.

Old generation versus new generation:

• Ben Loy and Mei Oi are under constant pressure from their parents and society to maintain traditional values while living in contemporary America.
  • Other contrasts: Ben Loy visiting a Chinese herb doctor as well as an American doctor; Ben Loy and Mei Oi's marriage being both arranged and mutually chosen

Importance of family:

• Carrying on the family name and reputation is important, therefore grandchildren are anticipated and boy babies are valued over girl babies
• The text even portrays family ties overriding the law. Although Wah Gay attacks Ah Song, he receives no punishment and Ah Song is exiled.
  • Ah Song, who has no family to speak of, states the amount of power placed on family ties: "A big stone will crush to death a crab" (226).

Roles of Men and Women in Society:

• It is only socially accepted for a man to have an affair:

"Husbands are different...They can go out and sleep with another woman and we woman folks can't do anything about it" (168).

• • Therefore, Mei Oi becomes the "man" in the marriage when she has an affair; this is reflected in Ben Loy's loss of manhood.
• Ben Loy regains his masculinity only when he establishes himself as an independent person and as the dominant one in the relationship.