Multiethnic Literatures in the U.S.

In the second half of In the Heart of the Valley of Love, there is a strong sense of time and a pang of wanting to be remembered. From the mentioning of typing has become a lost art, the star-spangled banner being played on the tv, days spent by the lake in the boathouse, Auntie Annie’s shopping spree memories, and to Nadine’s speech on never forgetting because it makes who you are, everything has become ephemeral but everyone is still seeking some type of permanence.

When mentioning Aunt Annie, it was all about how it used to be when going to the shopping mall was the norm. Now though, remembering and trying to reenact those times just brings about a strong sadness that those times are gone. Even Madeline, with all her beautiful beads, creates beautiful beaded necklaces for herself only to be never worn. And those beads are counted continuously only to be inventoried and later sold off.

For Francie and Mark, they decide to get tattoos with Francie choosing a vine around her wrist. The wine visually is just a circle, which also represents infinity, with no end and no beginning. And when you think of tattoos, you think of permanence, but even Carl the artist remarks on how the color will eventually fade in ten years. Not even the tattoos will last. This goes to show that nothing lasts, not even the structure society collapses. However, it is interesting to note that while it is 2052 in LA, these stories could easily, tragically, have been told within present-day Los Angeles. Jewel is trapped in an abusive affair, people behind walls argue and brawl, the people on the street carry guns, random violence is rampant.

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