The Persistent Insect

The cockroaches of Buried Onions symbolize the gangs of Fresno because of their characteristics and the hate that Eddie feels towards them. Firstly, the roach's persistence can be shown by a quote, "About an hour later when I entered my apartment, I was surprised to see that the cockroaches had returned. Their antennae were all bent, and some of their legs were crippled, but they were eager as ever…" (110). By comparing the cockroaches to the …showed first 75 words of 363 total…

…showed last 75 words of 363 total…the roaches can be paralleled to the intense disliking that Eddie feels towards the gangs of Fresno; thus being the greatest reason as to why the cockroaches symbolize the gangs. In short, I conclude that the cockroaches of Buried Onions symbolize the gangs of Fresno, because of their tenacity, their characteristics, their stubbornness in never truly leaving the apartment, and because of the hate that Eddie feels towards them; they are truly the persistent insect.