Themes and message

Loss of identity 

The main theme of Souvankham Thammavongsa’s short story “Edge of the World” is loss of identity. 

This theme is first explored through the narrator’s mother. She feels isolated because of the cultural differences between Laos and her new country. Unlike her daughter, she finds it difficult to fit in. She seems to have adopted an introverted personality, since the narrator mentions that she does not have friends. Another example is how she chooses to isolate herself in the kitchen at parties. She also seems to feel nostalgic about her life back in Laos. When she talks about the recipes, she says that “none of the dishes could live up to her memory of the real thing.” (l. 35)

The narrator adapted herself to Western culture from an early age. However, her loss of identity comes when her mother leaves her. ...