The motif of competition
Of course, the family is surrounded by an entire culture of violence. After the end of World War II, these Chinese Americans look enough like Japanese people to feel the full weight of xenophobia in America. The people are violent, and compared to Chinese life, where success is about family honor, success in America means something more cutthroat, something more authentically competitive. No doubt this affects how Ralph treats his wife and sister, badgering them like he gains something by defeating them—he doesn't gain anything by defeating someone who already loves him and wants his best.
The motif of violence
Competition has a built-in component of violence, as any couple can probably tell once they've argued bitterly. Not only is physical violence a very real animal impulse which should always be monitored, but also, there are other kinds of violence that can arise from conflict and competition, from hurtful words to tax fraud. By violating the ethics of competition, Ralph even finds a few white-collar ways to harm the balance of the economy.
The motif of women victims
When Ralph plays the victim about his conflicts with his wife, their fight begins to escalate—it isn't like she's a perfect rhetor either, of course. Eventually, he succumbs to a fit of panic, where his body instinctually attacks his wife, pushing her out of a window, potentially to her real death. His violence against her is unintentional, one might say, but the problem is that he also hits Theresa in his car when he isn't emotionally mature enough to handle the news that his wife has cheated. The truth is that through a long series of moral concessions, Ralph has weakened himself to a point of static desperation. If he is disturbed, he will explode. And who suffers? The women around him who care enough to try and help him emotionally.
The allegory of the American Nightmare
The American Dream has a sublime state of mind attached to it. Once a person begins to see the reality of the marketplace, they start to understand that if they could just get a little leverage, they might actually be able to transform their lives into something new. That has to do with the fertile nature of capitalism, but like all indulgences, the thirst for a better life can also become a vice. There is a bottomless pit of desire to keep Ralph continually longing, never satisfied. Doesn't he know he could accomplish just as much from a position of peace?
The restaurant
What does the restaurant demonstrate about Ralph's life? It represents that he is officially a lord. He has property, so to speak. Never mind the nepotistic nature of his success, nor the fact that his loved ones aren't sure it's worth the sacrifice. He manages to "succeed" in owning a business, but the reader should ask, what exactly does owning a business mean to him? The restaurant represents the success he attains by longing for his parents approval.
