A Look at Asian American Studies - Emery McKee - Ryan Caragher - Emma Rohrer - Gabe Velazquez

MEMORIES AND MONKEYS

Little Dog's memory through stories

Memory is a very important aspect in Little Dog’s life and his

Vietnamese identity. Through his grandmother's stories, Little

Dog is able to grasp an understanding of her life back in

Vietnam. In his letter to his mom, Little Dog uses the story of

the Macaque monkeys, which are the most hunted monkeys in

Vietnam. Men in the vietnamese culture consider the brains of

the macaques a delicacy. Little Dog explains how consuming

the brains are a way to remember the past, using their

memories to stay alive. Vietnamese men would eat the brains

until the animal stops moving, metaphorically stating the

monkey stays alive until its last memory is gone. Through the

power of memory, Little Dog is able to maintain the connection

between him and his family and their Vietnamese identity.