The author begins to describe the cheeseburger she ate when a boy she was having dinner with insulted her by saying, "You're too fat to f***." She described the cheeseburger as a warm, greasy, crispy meal between her fingers with moist buns, melted cheese, crispy lettuce, dense meat, and onion rings. Her detailed meal made her forgetful of what the insulting boy had just said to her. Her description symbolizes her love for food and how food was her getaway. This image strikes me because the moment I read these few lines I finally realized that Judith only felt at ease when she was eating. It was as if food was her only protection because for a moment it would help her forget the insult she had just received about herself. This image is very important because as soon as she is reminded of her image she runs to food for comfort. Her description is so different from her description of herself because it is so much nicer. She loved food more than herself. Judith grew up hearing harsh words about herself and the thing that did not try to hurt her was food because it could not speak. As Judith ate she felt happy and protected because she is not scared that she may hear the sharp words she always hears. She used food as her protection blanket and distraction to erase what she had just heard. This image shows how she does not have a relationship with anyone or anything but food. Her pain is only taken away from objects that cannot speak because humans have hurt her so much.
Imagery and Symbolism