When we
examine a work of literature, we frequently think about social and political
factors that can help us interpret it. It is possible to disregard these concerns
when examining a work; however, if we disregard the social and political
context of Garrett Hongo's poem "Who Among You Knows the Essence of
Garlic?" we may be left with a poem that simply lists food types; however,
a closer examination reveals that it is much more.
Hongo’s poem is filled with exotic
fruits and vegetables that create a siesta in the minds of the reader. Before
learning about the heritage of the poet one could think that the writer has
Hispanic heritage but with a little research, one could learn that he has a
hyphenated ethnicity. He is a Japanese-American man which is often referred to
as Asian-American. Hyphenated cultures often experience racism for not being a
native. Although America as a continent has always been a melting pot for
cultures, it is ironic that one of its biggest problems is ethnic racism. The
WASP culture is at the center of this problem for they accept themselves as the
owner of America. When the continent was first discovered seven hundred years
ago it was accepted as a heaven for all nations. Its beauty and natural
resources captivated every nation especially with its economic opportunities
after The Second World War which destroyed almost every country. The atom bomb
that finished the war was thrown by America to Japan and Hongo is one of the
many that experience an identity crisis for carrying the weight of both being
the hunter and the victim.
Hongo’s distinct style is his
descriptive lists and repetitious words and phrases which could be seen in this
poem either. The poem starts with an apostrophe to a foreigner calling him if
he can smell the fish’s smell that roasts between the sparkling sea salts. The
persona connects two important things for an islander; fish and sea salt which
both came from the sea that gives life to islanders. Poet uses both olfactory
and visual imagery to awaken interest in the reader. Also, by choosing the word
‘foreigner’ the poet gives a hint that there is someone outside with unknown
intentions.
In the last two stanzas, the
persona describes cooking which includes the ingredients that are endemic in
America and Japan. Hongo turns these ingredients into a delicious meal that
could be only cooked by the contribution of these two different nations.
Persona's question becomes more
acceptable in the end because the only people who know the essence of garlic
are the people who cook these ethnic foods. Throughout the poem, Hongo's ethnic
considerations lead to a family supper that includes a variety of foods from
his culture. Even a foreigner would be welcomed at this dinner if he could
smell, taste, and see through the eyes of his counterman. He implies that, like
the various ingredients that come together to make a delightful feast, a mix of
identities and cultures could result in a rich and "delicious" race.
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