The Leftover Woman

“She’d spoken Chinese instead of trying English first like she would have with someone my age. It must have been clear that I was fresh off the boat.”

Immigration is one of this novel’s key focal points. There have been several large waves of Chinese immigration to the United States, and Jasmine’s experiences speak to those of women like her whose journeys are not without struggle. She relies on traffickers to smuggle her to the United States and contends with prejudice and difficulty immediately upon arrival.

“Two people connected by red thread will always be tied together.”

Anthony’s red string bracelet is one of this novel’s key symbols. It represents not only Anthony’s connection to Jasmine but also their shared connection to China’s history and culture. Although both characters move to a country in which assimilation is encouraged, they manage to retain their sense of Chinese identity even as they explore what it means to become American. This sentence, early in the novel, also foreshadows Anthony and Jasmine’s eventual reunion.

“The hairpin was my history, the accumulation of generations of women in my family who had starved and died rather than let it out of my hands.”

The hairpin represents Jasmine’s connection to her family history and traditional Chinese culture. Immigrants like Jasmine are encouraged to assimilate—to leave their traditions behind and adopt American beliefs, practices, and values. Part of Jasmine’s struggle is in learning how to adapt to her new country without entirely leaving the values of her old one behind.