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Chapter 11
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Emperor of Gladness, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Found Family
Time
War and Generational Trauma
Distortions of Reality
The American Dream
Summary
Analysis
After a shift, Hai and Russia sit, exhausted, behind HomeMarket sharing a cigarette. Russia compliments Hai’s boots, noticing that they are boots Nike made for the army. Russia says his cousin’s friend, Rob, had them after fighting in Afghanistan. Rob was a meth addict and, as described by Russia, was “addicted to war,” continually returning for another tour. He tells a story of Rob interrupting Russia’s cousin’s barbecue and lights another cigarette. Watching him, Hai feels the urge to touch Russia’s face; while Hai knows Russia isn’t necessarily beautiful, the camaraderie he feels with him makes him want to kiss Russia.
In referencing boots that Nike made for the military, Vuong combines the issues of war and capitalism; a popular brand, like Nike, is directly involved with the American military, suggesting how intertwined militarism and capitalism can be. Russia goes on to expand on this issue of war and, through his story about Rob, sheds light on how people are negatively impacted by serving in war. Hai’s desire to touch and kiss Russia hints at his queerness, although it is unclear, at this point in the novel, if Hai has come to terms with this facet of his identity or if his attraction to Russia is his first inkling that he’s attracted to other men.
Themes
Russia goes on with his stories of Rob, who told them about a grenade launcher that killed two of his fellow soldiers. Russia simply fed him chicken. He changes the topic to Sony, mentioning how obsessed he is with the army. Hai says it’s because his father was in a war, much like Russia’s. He then explains that he first got the boots from a friend, and his mother replaced his pair when they wore out. Hai returns his focus to Russia’s face, noting how the dim light smooths acne that Russia is often ashamed of.
As Russia continues to elaborate on the negative personal impacts of war, Hai continues to admire Russia’s physical appearance. Additionally, the fact that Hai’s mother replaced his boots when his old pair grew too old shows that, despite their issues, she cares for Hai and wants to make him happy.
Themes
The topic shifts to Russia’s sister, who is currently in rehab in New Hampshire. Hai doesn’t share about his own time in rehab. Russia explains that his sister has relapsed twice, but that’s apparently expected. Hai knows, like the rest of the team, that Russia is paying to put his sister through recovery. Russia says he’s not scared for his sister because, like their grandma, she’s strong. He tells Hai a story of a Russian man who disappeared on his way to get cigarettes. People vanish often, he says, “even here in America.” Hai comments on how the government might reinstate the draft. Russia disregards the authority of the government but, once again, compliments Hai’s boots.
Once again, Vuong makes clear how prevalent substance abuse is during the time of this novel, as both Hai and Russia’s sister spent time in rehab. This also complicates Russia’s often brazen, uncaring personality, as it shows that he is deeply invested in helping his sister recover. His later statement that people disappear even in America shows how the ideal vision of America persists even in younger generations, though Russia seems to be much more skeptical of this vision than Grazina is.
Themes
