Chang-Rae Lee shines a light on several major topics in his essay “Magical Dinners.” Most of these topics surround his mother, whether it be about her cooking or her inability, nay her unwillingness, to assimilate to American lifestyle. Lee describes how his mother was “too indulgent” of his desires when it came to food and regardless of what other family members said  “[Lee’s] choice is what [they would] have.” He continues by referring to himself as an “emperor” and explains that all he wanted to eat was American food. Lee, fully aware of the fact that his mother refused to cook anything other than Korean food as a means to hold on to the past, continues to demand that they eat dishes traditionally considered American such as meat loaf and fried chicken. His disregard for her emotions is simply appalling.

Further into the essay, he states that he can be “tyrannical” and that “[he] can squash her whole days work with a grimace or some blithe utterance.” Lee places himself in this position of power that is extremely disrespectful towards his mother and portrays to the readers how one simple decision of choosing what was for dinner or giving his opinion on his mother’s cooking made him  so powerful. His mother’s vulnerability is evident in different situations, for example her nervousness when cooking a turkey, however, Lee easily alienates her emotions. This is evident through his direct language and simple phrasing of his writing.

My response to this was shocking. I was sick to my stomach, absolutely disgusted at how he treated his mother and all because he go to choose what was for dinner. He writes with a certain nonchalance about his behavior and this made me even more furious. Although my emotional judgement got the better of me, I am able to look at his writing more rationally now. Without my emotions judging my mindset, I can conclude that his ability to criticize himself and acknowledge his past behavior is admirable.