Themes and message

The main themes of the short story “Eating Sugar” by Catherine Merriman are xenophobia and generational gaps. These themes are explored with the help of motifs like c…

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Xenophobia

Xenophobia is defined as a deep or irrational aversion to or fear of people from other countries. This theme is illustrated in the short story through Suzanne’s parents, Alex and Eileen.

Alex and Eileen are two middle-aged parents visiting their daughter Suzanne, who lives and teaches English in Thailand. Although in their youth they used to been more trustful and experimental, now they have become quite fearful and distrustful. Eileen professes her dislike of Thailand and her fears about Thais openly, while Alex is more reserved: “Eileen found Thailand stressful, and wasn’t ashamed to show it. Alex was grateful to her. Her constantly-expressed anxiety kept his own fear suppressed.” (p. 17, ll. 25-27)

By following Alex’s perspective throughou…

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Generational gaps

The theme of generational gaps is explored through Alex, Eileen, and Suzanne. In the story, Alex and Eileen are Suzanne’s parents, but their roles are reversed. Because Alex and Eileen are tourists in Thailand where their daughter already lives, they feel like helpless children. They act in fearful and irrational ways, and they need Suzanne to feel protecte…