Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Min's breakup box contains a seemingly endless array of objects that she collected over the course of her relationship with Ed. Min says it includes:
[…] every last souvenir of the love we had, the prizes and debris of this relationship, like the glitter in the gutter when the parade has passed, all the everything and whatnot kicked to the curb. (2.1)
These items are nothing special in and of themselves, but Min has imbued them with special meaning. Over the course of the book, she examines each one, and shares an associated memory, letting them go as she does. "How utterly incorrect to think […] a box of crap is treasures" (40.93), Min writes, nearing the end of her letter. The box has slowly been drained of its meaning, and now she's ready to get rid of it and move on.
Okay, so the box is obviously pretty connected on a symbolic level to Min and Ed's relationship. More than that, though, it reflects Min's experience of the relationship—the box isn't something they shared, it's something Min made to hold treasured reminders of their times together. Its contents, then, reflect the moments that mattered most to Min. And when she's ready to part with the box, it isn't just that it is no longer meaningful to her; she's ready not to hold onto Ed emotionally any longer, too.
To explore some of the more significant items from the breakup box, be sure to keep reading through this section.