Beef
Beef is used in the novel to symbolize masculinity, power, and Western affluence--at least as much as Beef-X promoters were concerned. Promoters market the meat by associating it with the beast that it has come from, i.e. supposedly strong, virile, young bulls. They also attempt to market beef by associating it with the mid century American stereotype. Beef however becomes a symbol and a metaphor for the dishonesty of the agri-business as the meat actually comes from stupidly docile creatures incapable of defending themselves having been raised all their life in a feedlot. Moreover, the cattle that the beef is sourced from are far from the strong creatures they are touted to be as they are raised in filth and need to be pumped full of antibiotics to keep from getting sick.
Other Meats and Vegetables
In contrast to what beef has come to symbolize other meat and food items such as chicken, pork, lamb, and vegetables symbolize wholesomeness and what food was originally meant to be: nourishment for both mind and body. Akiko’s Japanese diet of fish, vegetables and rice actually kept her healthy, but when John began insisting that she begin cooking beef-centric dishes learned from the show, both of them become ill: John suffers from a terrible allergic reaction and Akiko becomes bulimic to the point where her menses stop altogether.
Culture Caricatures of Women
In the novel, the culture caricature of women is a frequently encountered symbol. The idea that the ideal wife and woman should be a combination of submissive wife, cook, dutiful homemaker, mother, and sex symbol, is an idea that “My American Wife!” practically shoves down the Japanese viewers' throats.
Letters/Diary Entries/Fax Correspondences
These various modes of communication are used to in lieu of traditional narration both to show how vastly different the lives of the two lead characters are and as a visual metaphor for the inclinations and temperaments of each of the women.
Motherhood/Pregnancy
The procreative ability of women is a symbol of the value ascribed to women. Pregnancy, or in this case the difficulty of both women to bear children, becomes a defining condition of the main characters. Since both characters have a tough time conceiving their value in the eyes of their respective spouses are greatly diminished. So diminished in fact that Akiko becomes the victim of emotional and physical abuse because she has difficulty conceiving. In a similar fashion, Jane is also looked down upon by her first husband for her seeming inability to get pregnant, causing friction in their union and eventually becoming a catalyst for their divorce.
