Essay Questions

What is being criticized in the novel? Support your answer by citing examples.

The novel criticizes a number of things but it is most critical of the ethics of large-scale agribusinesses and the societal double standard that exists both in the workplace and in romantic relationships. The condemnation large-scale agribusinesses can be seen in the author’s choice to cast an agri-conglomerate Beef-Ex as it’s primary antagonist and to portray the consumers as well as those involved in beef production as victims. The author critiques societal double standards in the workplace and in romantic relationships through the two lead female characters, Jane Takagai-Little and Ueno Akiko. Both characters experience marital strains because each of their spouses expects them to bear children as well as assume certain duties as part of their roles as wives. Jane finds it difficult to manage the TV crew, as they aren’t used to having a strong female lead. Akiko, on the hand, sacrifices her career as a mangka to serve her husband better. The author also makes it a point to have virtually no positive male characters in the novel.

One of the main themes in the novel is the clash of cultures. Please cite some examples of this from the novel.

There are many instances of the theme of East versus West and none more clearly represented than in the main character Jane Takagi-Little. She is a walking, talking example of this theme herself a woman of dual ethnicity, the daughter of a Japanese woman and an American father. Her upbringing is an example of this theme too: she grew up as a child in Minnesota then moved to Japan as an adult to study Japanese literature. When her personal life grows rocky she moves back to the US and stays in New York but finds it difficult to find employment. A producer friend of hers in Japan offers her work and there she helps to conceptualize a cooking-reality show highlighting American housewives cooking beef dishes to promote the use of imported beef in Japan. On the show she constantly butts heads with her Japanese male boss and the male TV crew, most because she is an outspoken, half-American woman.

What does beef symbolize in the novel?

Beef is used in the novel to symbolize a number of things, notably, masculinity, power, and Western affluence. They associate the product with the mid century American and Cowboy stereotype promoting the product as a strength and health giving food item. As Jane delves deeper into her investigation she finds out that it could not have been farther from the truth: the cattle that the beef is sourced from are weak, stupid creatures raised in their own filth and need to be pumped full of antibiotics to keep from getting sick. Beef then becomes a symbol of dishonesty and corporate greed.