Wright excessively refers to his state of hunger. In some instances yes, he is actually hungry for physical food, but within other more symbolic instances he is searching and longing for some kind of genuine affection. The change from literal meaning to symbolism comes after Wright's father leaves. Before when his dad lived with him there was food, the father would go and work and bring home food for their family. But now, because he has left Wright is not only physically starving he is also being deprived of a father figure. "I had been glad that he was not there to shout his restrictions at me. But it had never occurred to me that his absence would mean that there would be no food." pg. 15 Wright automatically makes the connection of hunger to the absence of his father. So as the chapter continues, Wright's longing for actual food morphs into a longing for his father or for what his father had provided for him in the past.