Chicken Symbol Analysis

Chicken represents how different two countries’ cultures and economies can be. For Caitlin, chicken is a typical weeknight meal, but for Martin, it is a special Christmas dinner—if his family can even afford it then. Learning about how special chicken is to Martin’s family helps Caitlin to better understand the economic conditions that Martin lives in. Chicken also shows how scarcity can make something more desirable: Martin values chicken much more than Caitlin because he’s only able to have it on rare occasions, whereas Caitlin can have it whenever she wants. The abundance of chicken for Caitlin makes her take it for granted, showing how people in wealthier countries are often unaware of how good they have it, particularly compared to people from poorer countries. When Caitlin gives money to Martin’s family, they celebrate, showing how a small gift from one person (i.e., Caitlin gifting her spare baby-sitting money) can have a big impact on the recipient. Notably, when Martin’s family finally buys chicken, they share it with other people in their community, emphasizing the idea that “kindness is contagious.”