Ocean Vuong finds beauty in a fast food shift

Ocean Vuong’s novel *The Emperor of Gladness* examines the equalizing power of death and the realities of life in a declining American city. Drawing on a *Hamlet* quote, the narrative centers on the inevitable dissolution of social borders, using Hartford, Connecticut, as a backdrop for a generation caught between childhood and adulthood. Unlike conventional literary narratives that prioritize self-improvement or overcoming adversity, the story portrays characters who remain in their circumstances, finding solace in "circumstantial families" formed within service-sector workplaces. These environments, such as fast-food restaurants, serve as sites of profound human intimacy and subversive storytelling. By centering the mother-son relationship and the experiences of refugees, the work challenges traditional patriarchal structures and explores how vulnerability and shared narratives function as essential tools for survival in a precarious economic landscape.