In his essay, Paterniti uses “close 3rd” point of view as he describes each of the main characters. How does his choice of point of view impact your understanding and impression of motel owners Jack and Bout, specifically?

• This point of view choice forces the reader to see the world through the context of the people in the story. The vivid imagery of the piece really helps play this up too. For Jack and Bout in particular, Paterniti uses a lot of the same phrases and statements over and over, but uses them for both of the people. This insinuates to the reader that this is really more connected than we first can tell. I feel like I can understand the motivations behind each of the characters more, Bout in particular, because of this point of view. The way Paterniti chooses to write each of these characters is significant too; Paterniti uses language that differs between the two main characters, with Bout having more short and simple sentences and Jack having shorter sentences that start with verbs, showing a difference in thought process. This essay is framed in this way so we see the world from both of these people’s perspectives, which adds to its comparative nature.

The dreaded question–what is this essay really about, in your own words? Frame one direct quote (using the quote sandwich method) to support your answer.

• This essay, as I interpreted it, is about racism and xenophobia. The people in the essay consistently use language that is harsh, callous, and prejudicial of others who do not look the same. Jack and Bev feel disservice by the fact that the “Cambodians” are stealing their business and Bout has prejudicial views as well, but she doesn’t let them impact her business as much as Jack. A point in particular where I thought the ideas of prejudice and jealousy really stuck out was, “…do you know how it feels to have a hundred years on this land…then have it taken from you, just ripped away by people who washed up yesterday.” I feel like this quote exemplifies Jack’s mindset perfectly. He takes the success of others as an insult and doesn’t do anything to fix it. Jack thinks of Bout and her late partner Dwayne as scam artists, assuming Bout doesn’t pay taxes and that she is not American. But the whole point of this piece is that being American looks really different for a lot of people, but includes those who have lived in America their whole life and those who have immigrated there.

What do you think Paterniti wants us, the reader, to think about once we finish his essay? Use two direct quotes to help support your answer.

• I think Paterniti wants us to understand that immigrants have struggled and continue to struggle when they get to America as well as the views that “born Americans” have on these people and how they are damaging. Jack and Bev are the primary instigators of prejudice towards the immigrants in the story, consistently using language such as, “…[Bout] and her people, so many of them over there-and not think of their greed too, how they out-American the Americans almost, but playing the whole thing kind of dirty, by different rules: doing all the work themselves to cut costs, taking food out of the mouths of white folk.” They view Bout in a way that is hateful and discounts the struggles she went through to do what she needed to succeed. It is because of treatment like this that Bout is relieved when a white man comes in and talks with her about Thanksgiving and how, “We’re all boat people here, isn’t that right?” The fact Bout views this interaction in the way she does, one where she relates to someone who looks different, gives me the impression that she has a more open and accepting mind than Jack does. Paterniti wants us to understand that being the hated only teaches people to hate. What I mean by that is by being hateful towards others, we are creating a country that fosters prejudice.

What does it mean “to be American”? How do Jack and Bout support and/or challenge your definition of “American”?

• I don’t see “Americans” as how Jack describes it. I’ve always been taught that the US was a giant mixing pot, and that’s what makes it special. Bout says that, “…an American looks Laotian as much as an American looks Irish or Rwandan…” a point which I agree with fully. She also talks about how an American, “Smiles like anything can be done…[takes] small, determined steps,” something which I also align with. I am challenged with Bout’s view a bit when she delves into religion, as I am a non-religious person, but in general, her views of what an American is align with mine. Jack on the other hand views Americans as people who are born in America, particularly white people only. His dialect suggests racist undertones towards people of all races except his own, something that aligns with his views of who qualifies as an American. His views are stagnate, and feel as though he has no room to move of learn of others, which is part of why he hates Bout so much.

How do the themes in “Eating Jack Hooker’s Cow” interact with themes in prior readings? Be specific.

• I think “Eating Jack Hooker’s Cow” aligns with out past reading in the way that it reminds us that our treatment of others matters, and our actions directly affect others. This piece connects with Chen’s “Unfollow” in the way that Megan Phelps-Roper viewed the world from one, prejudicial viewpoint, but because she was given patience and had the opportunity to unlearn her hate, she became a better person. By listening to others, Megan Phelps-Roper was able to change her viewpoint and be more understanding of those who were different. David Foster Wallace’s “This is Water” also connects with this piece, particularly with his ideas of blind certainty, how people view the world from different contexts that have been shaped by their experiences, and how people are usually unmoving in their ideologies unless they make the conscious effort to change them.