SARGUN SARGUN

ENG-104
Darcy Ballantyne
PARTICIPATION EXERCISE ON “THE WEEDING CAKE”
1st NOVEMBER, 2023

1. What is the narrative style of "The Wedding Cake" story?

The narrative style of "The Wedding Cake" story is a third-person perspective that delves into
the emotions, memories, and experiences of the characters, particularly Abu Victor (Joseph). The
story sheds light on the characters' relationships, their shared history in Beirut, and their
present-day lives in Montreal. The way the story combines flashbacks with the present gives the
reader a thorough understanding of the characters' pasts and the significance of the wedding
cake.

2. Explain the wedding cake metaphor for Joseph (aka Abu Victor).
In the story, the wedding cake has a powerful symbolic meaning. A wedding cake has
historically served as a symbol of romance, dedication, love, hope, growth, and prosperity in
Western weddings. Cake is a metaphor for the things lost in the story: future, hope, legacy, and
lineage. Abu Victor's sorrow and loss over his son Victor are always brought up by the cake. The
untouched cake reflects both the unfulfilled promise and the unrealized future. The cake also
represents the strong relationship and commitment the four men—Joseph, George, Tony, and
Elias—have for one another. By the end of the story, cutting and eating the cake suggests the
three friends' commitment to taking care of Abu Victor in the future.

3. Where does the story take place?

The narrative is set in Montreal on a hot Friday afternoon or evening in the summer. The deck of
Abu Victor and Nadia's apartment serves as the main location.

4. How long is the action, i.e., several years, one hour, a weekend?
The story's main action takes place on a single day, a Friday from late in the afternoon to
evening. Flashbacks to the characters' past in Montreal from about 1990 onwards as well as their
experiences in Beirut before, during, and after the war are also included in the story.

5. Who are the main characters and what is their relationship to each other?

The main characters are:

● Joseph (Abu Victor): The protagonist, is a stocky man who loves sports.
● Nadia: Abu Victor's wife.
● George: Abu Victor's "best friend," who is blind and often tells jokes.
● Tony: A tall, "rocket-shaped" individual who is seen as the group leader and has feelings
for Nadia.
● Elias (Le Colonel): A gay individual who is somewhat of a snob, a professor, and a
philosopher.
● Victor: Abu Victor's deceased son, an engineer known for his kindness.
● Mi-yung: Victor's Korean fiancée.
The four men (Joseph, George, Tony, and Elias) share a deep bond, having grown up together in
the same Beirut neighborhood. Their friendship was forged during the war, and they later
immigrated to Montreal, where they continued their bond.