The Escape Journey
The escape journey symbolizes the dangers of immigration. For instance, as Anh's family escapes from Vietnam using a fishing boat, they face a lot of challenges including rough storms and pirates. Anh's extended family is at the mercy of the natural and human disasters but they only hope that the creator will grant them journey mercies. At some point, the pirate grabs a young child and tears his diapers. He threatens to throw the baby into the waters as Tam screams to the family to help the baby. At last, the family manages to arrive in Australia safely but the journey is rough and scary.
Re-education in the camps
The narrator of the memoir uses the re-education camps to symbolize the ruthlessness of the communist government which took over Vietnam after the end of the war. Anh's two uncles who participated in the war alongside the American and Australian soldiers are taken to the re-education camps. The Communist regime is not pleased with Anh's two uncles who aided the American and Australian soldiers. The Communist regime claims that it is using the re-education camps to educate the opponents of government such as Anh's uncles but the truth is that it is used to punish those who oppose the regime.
The symbol of Anh Do
Besides being the narrator of the memoir, Anh Do is himself a symbol of courage, hard work, and perseverance. He is born in a war-torn Vietnam and his parents are poor and struggling to raise the family. However, his parents reminded him of the motto of hard work and perseverance. When they migrate to Australia, Anh works hard and joins a law school. He meets Suzie a bright lady from a rich family. He gains the courage to pursue her until he marries her. Despite the many challenges he goes through, Anh Do can overcome and end up victorious.
The Fishing Boat
The fishing boat is symbolically used to show the hardships the people of Vietnam have to go through to be free and successful. Anh recounts that when his extended family decides to migrate to Australia after the end of the Vietnam War, they fundraise from all relatives to ensure that they get enough money to buy a fishing boat for the journey. However, Anh explains that obtaining the fishing boat is the most dangerous thing because it is only available in the black market. Therefore, obtaining the boat is equated to attaining freedom and good life which the family is struggling to attain in the long run.
The Happiest Refugee
The title of the memoir The Happiest Refugee is a symbol of a happy ending. Anh and his family have been through difficult times. The family lives in a war-torn country where there is no peace. The family is also living below the poverty line because when they try to escape to Australia, the extended family is trying to raise funds to buy the fishing boat. The family manages to escape to Australia where they start rebuilding their lives. Despite the hardships and struggles as refugees, Anh emerges victorious and happy when he manages to marry Suzie.
