Final Answer:
In "Fish Cheeks" by Amy Tan, the phrase "white as Mary in the Manger" is a simile used to describe the paleness of a Caucasian girl named Robert. It's a reference to the biblical story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is often depicted as serene and pure, thus conveying the girl's fair complexion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Amy Tan employs the simile "white as Mary in the Manger" to vividly portray the extreme paleness of Robert, a Caucasian boy invited to Amy's family dinner. The comparison to Mary in the biblical manger, where Jesus was born, highlights the girl's fair skin tone, which appears strikingly white in contrast to Amy's Asian heritage and family members' darker complexions.
The reference to Mary in the Manger is significant for its cultural and religious connotations. Mary is traditionally depicted in religious art as a symbol of purity, innocence, and serenity. By likening Robert's paleness to Mary's depiction, Tan emphasizes the stark difference in appearance between Robert and her own family, drawing attention to the contrast between their cultures and ethnicities.
This simile not only emphasizes the visual contrast but also underscores the sense of cultural dissonance that Amy experiences during the dinner. It accentuates the idea of feeling out of place or different, further amplifying the theme of identity, cultural clash, and the struggle to reconcile one's cultural heritage with the dominant culture.