Dial A for Aunties

Perhaps the most iconic symbol in the novel is Ah Guan’s corpse. Many of the characters in the novel are burying emotions or otherwise hiding important truths about themselves. Maureen and Jacqueline are secretly in love, and Tom Cruise Sutopo has no friends, which forced him to hire the groomsmen. Ah Guan himself isn’t who he claims to be, and even when his real identity is discovered, it’s also discovered that he was striving to be a thief. Nathan Chan still harbors feelings for Meddy Chan, and the entire Chan family has much to discuss that they’ve kept locked inside instead. Throughout the novel, the corpse becomes the figurative elephant in the room until all secrets, and the emotions related to them, come to light.

In Meddy’s case, the symbolism of the corpse is most poignant. Even before the corpse’s arrival, Meddy is already carrying the dead weight of two big secrets: her past relationship with Nathan and her desire for independence. She assumes that these parts of her will forever stay hidden, given her family-oriented life trajectory. However, the horrendous date has two shocking outcomes: the body in Meddy’s trunk and the revelation that Meddy still loves Nathan.