In the television receiver show Warrior , the term “ onion ” is used as a cant terminus by Cantonese speakers to refer to Chinese immigrant . This term carries a deep import and is often used to depict the struggles , challenges , and experiences of Chinese immigrants in the United States during the belated 1800s .
The installment championship , “ The Itchy Onion , ” specifically refers to the character Ah Sahm . Ah Sahm is a Chinese immigrant who arrives in San Francisco and becomes involved in the violent world of the Tong Wars . The term “ itchy ” in this context of use represents Ah Sahm ’s restlessness and desire to prove himself in this Modern and unfamiliar surroundings .
The use of “ onion ” as a metaphor for Chinese immigrant is quite challenging . On the surface , an onion plant may seem like an ordinary vegetable , but when you peel off its layers , you unveil its lawful essence and flavor . likewise , Chinese immigrant in the show are often seen as outsiders or invisible to the dominant culture . However , as the story build , their true strength , resilience , and contributions to society are give away .
Just like an onion , Chinese immigrants face legion challenge and discrimination upon arriving in the United States . They had to weather rough solve circumstance , crushed remuneration , and constant prejudice . The condition “ onion ” get the idea that Chinese immigrant had to pilot through various layer of obstruction and hardships to establish their place in American society .
Furthermore , the use of this slang terminus highlights the cultural watershed between Cantonese dialect - speak Chinese immigrants and the English - speaking American society . It signify a sense of one among Chinese immigrant , as they developed their own language , customs , and residential area to stand one another in a foreign ground .
In my personal experience , I have witnessed the struggles of immigrant in my community . Many of them face language barriers , ethnic stupor , and favoritism . Like the layer of an onion , they often have to molt their old personal identity and adapt to a new culture , while still hold onto their roots . It is a delicate reconciliation routine , much like peeling by the layer of an onion without losing its core .
The use of the term “ Allium cepa ” in Warrior serves as a sinewy symbol to correspond the experiences , challenge , and resilience of Formosan immigrant in the recent 1800s . It encapsulate their journey of self - find , adaptation , and ultimately , their seeking for acceptance in a unexampled and unfamiliar land . Through the graphic symbol of Ah Sahm , viewers are given a glance into the multifaceted experiences of Chinese immigrant and the layers of their identity operator that they navigate through .
Caroline Bates
