Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
They Plump When You Cook Them
After Lefty's death, Milton converts the family diner business into Hercules Hot Dogs. Should we be surprised at another phallocentric (read: it looks like a pee-pee) symbol in this book? What is it with these men and their wieners?
Cal sees the stands as over-commercialized and a "steep come-down from the romantic days of the Zebra Room" (3.4.41). It doesn't help that Milton pretty much runs the restaurants all by himself, which puts even more space between him and his family. Speaking of distance, hot dogs are a classic American food. Why doesn't Milton sell gyros instead? We really like gyros.