The Lapel Pin

The lapel pin symbolizes the superficiality of Sikander's loyalty to Donald Trump. After failing to show up to his initial appointment with Sikander, Donald Trump tries to make up for it by bringing Sikander coffee and a lapel pin that says on it "LOVE LIFE!" (12). Sikander is completely won over by this "token of contrition" (12). The narrator undermines the genuineness of Donald's show of appreciation by calling the pin a "worthless trinket" (12). Nevertheless, the narrator emphasizes how cheaply Sikander's loyalty was purchased, describing his life-long commitment to Donald on the basis of this one gesture.

The Blush

The "blush" (24) symbolizes the polarizing response that American-born Muslims are susceptible to feel regarding the attacks of 9/11. The blush is undergone by a character in a play written by the narrator, in which a Muslim-American character experiences an "unexpected and unwelcome sense of pride" (24) in response to...