45 pages • 1 hour read
America is in the Heart
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Symbols & Motifs
Alcohol
Alcohol is almost always the precursor to trouble in America is in the Heart. It is unclear why Allos resists alcohol for so long. However, by the end of the book, he sees so many violent acts—often precipitated by or associated with alcohol—that his aversion to it begins to make more sense. Perhaps his resistance stems from having witnessed similar situations in the Philippines. It is significant that many of Allos’s darkest times also coincide with times when he drinks. His father also falls victim to alcoholism when he loses all of his land.
Trains and Buses
Despite feeling trapped by less than ideal circumstances in America, Allos is never without a temporary escape route. Huge swaths of the book read like travel itineraries as he bounces from town to town and back again. This coping mechanism of uprooting himself would not be possible without the prevalence of trains and buses. These transportation modes also reflect the character's pervasive restlessness.
Gambling
Simply living in America is a risk for Filipinos. Those who look most prosperous to Allos are often those who run criminal enterprises or gambling houses. Because the wages are so poor for most jobs, gambling represents a chance to make a big score in order to get some breathing room. However, gambling leads to debt and violence. The gambling houses are also often combined with brothels and frequented by criminals. There is little good that ever comes to Allos from his forays into the gambling houses. Nevertheless, they also exist as community hubs for Filipino Americans who are often cast out of more reputable establishments.
Books
Books are the vehicle by which Allos educates himself. They contain stories and methods for thinking. Allos’s increasing maturity typically scales with the degree and care with which he reads. Early in the narrative, he believes that he hates certain things and that the world is unfair and uncaring. However, as he exposes himself to new perspectives through books he begins to see that struggle is universal and that his situation is not unique. This puts him in a position to think objectively rather than react emotionally to horrible realities such as racism, exploitation, and violence. For example, Allos’s reading of transcendentalists like Walt Whitman helps him achieve greater harmony in his life and interactions.
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