How Squid Game Uses Food to Critique Society

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Explore how food in Squid Game symbolizes class struggles and societal issues, enhancing the narrative through its stark contrasts.

Introduction

Squid Game, the South Korean Netflix phenomenon, has captivated audiences worldwide since its debut. Beyond its thrilling plot, it serves as a poignant critique of capitalist society, particularly the chasm between wealth and poverty. One of the most powerful storytelling tools used in the series is food. Throughout the show, different meals reflect the social status of characters, revealing deeper themes of inequality and survival.

In this article, we’ll explore how food is not just sustenance in Squid Game, but a narrative device that underscores class distinctions and personal struggles. From humble street food to lavish meals for the elite, each dish conveys a message about the characters’ positions within society. Let’s dive into some key examples that illustrate this.

Food as a Symbol of Class Struggle

In Squid Game, food often symbolizes the social divide between characters. In the very first episode, protagonist Seong Gi-hun tries to celebrate his daughter’s birthday with tteokbokki, a cheap street food made from rice cakes in a spicy sauce. This meal starkly contrasts with his daughter’s experiences at upscale restaurants, highlighting their economic disparity.

• Tteokbokki represents Gi-hun’s lower-class status and inability to provide for his family.
• The term “junk food” used in the dialogue further emphasizes this notion of low-quality dining experiences associated with poverty.

Such moments set the stage for understanding how deeply ingrained class issues are within South Korean society—and by extension, global societies—where food choices often reflect one’s economic standing.

The Meals of Survival

As contestants enter the deadly game for financial freedom, their meals become less about nourishment and more about survival. In episode three, players receive a basic bento box containing rice, kimchi, vegetables, and an egg—meals designed to keep them alive just enough to compete.

• The uniformity of these meals signifies how players are reduced to mere numbers in a game where their lives are expendable.
• Moreover, when detective Hwang Jun-ho infiltrates as one of the guards and receives a similar meal—minus an egg—it reveals that even those enforcing order are not far removed from deprivation.

This clever use of food highlights not only physical hunger but also emotional starvation among all characters caught in this ruthless competition.

Infantilization Through Food Choices

The series continues to explore power dynamics through food during pivotal scenes. When players receive soboro, a peanut-flavored snack with milk for breakfast before another game challenge, it infantilizes them—a tactic used by oppressive regimes to control populations through scarcity and manipulation.

• This deliberate choice reflects how vulnerable they are; reducing adults to childlike states reinforces their lack of agency within this dangerous environment.
• In conjunction with this scene is the infamous dalgona candy challenge where contestants must cut shapes from sugar cookies under duress—illustrating both vulnerability and desperation as mistakes lead to fatal consequences.

These moments serve as reminders that beyond entertainment lies a critical commentary on human condition under capitalism: pressured choices leading to dire outcomes.

The Dichotomy of Luxury vs. Poverty

In stark contrast to players’ meager rations are the lavish indulgences enjoyed by wealthy spectators known as “VIPs.” Episode seven showcases these elite viewers sipping high-end wines while they observe contestants fight for survival—a blatant display of privilege amidst suffering.

• This juxtaposition serves not only as commentary on moral decay among elites but also critiques how they derive pleasure from others’ pain while being shielded by wealth and status.
• Such depictions challenge viewers to reflect on their own societal roles; who benefits from entertainment derived from violence?

This extreme contrast between what different classes consume echoes broader societal conversations about wealth disparity in many cultures worldwide today.

Conclusion: A Reflection on Society Through Cuisine

Ultimately, Squid Game utilizes food as more than just props; it becomes an integral part of storytelling that encapsulates themes around class struggle and societal critique. Each meal tells a story—a reflection not only on character backgrounds but also on larger cultural narratives surrounding poverty versus affluence. As we eagerly anticipate Season Two’s arrival (which promises more intense challenges), it’s essential we consider these elements that enrich our viewing experience while challenging our perceptions about society at large.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash