The Imagery of the Immigrants
Shteyngart observes, “In the reception room, under the gentle but insistent prodding of trained Assimilation Facilitators, Turks and Kurds called a truce, Tutsis queued patiently behind Hutus. Serbs chatted up Croats by the demilitarized water fountain.” The imagery of the immigrants is astonishing because it incorporates formerly antagonistic groups. The portrayal of the antagonistic groups surmises that the folks are not keen to propagate ancient bitterness in America.
The Imagery of Vladimir’s son
Vladimir depicts his looked-for vision for his son: “A boy. Growing up a drift in a private world of electronic goblins and quiet sexual urges. Properly insulated from the elements by stucco and storm windows. Serious and a bit dull, but beset by no illness, free of the dear and madness of Vladimir’s Eastern lands.” Vladimir’s vision relates to a categorical American dream which would license his son to lead a high-quality existence. Being born in America would inevitably render Vladimir’s son an utter American.
