Themes and Perspectives in Japanese American Literature

Questions and Answers

What symbolic value do the flowers have in the story?

The flowers represent loss, reflecting the identities lost during the war and the family's old life with the gone rose bush.

What does the conclusion suggest about the relationship between the family and the 'strangers' they live among?

The conclusion suggests that both the family and 'strangers' are connected through shared loss.

Who is speaking in the final chapter titled 'Confession'?

The father is speaking.

Describe the tone and explain the verbal irony in the final chapter.

The tone is sarcastic and ironic, as the father appears innocent but uses sarcasm to express what Americans wanted to believe about the Japanese. Signup and view all the answers

Why has the author chosen to end the novel with a chapter called 'Confession'?

The ending emphasizes the father's complex role and the themes of innocence versus perception of the enemy. Signup and view all the answers

Construct a theme statement based on the final chapter and your knowledge of the book.

The novel illustrates the injustice and prejudice faced by Japanese Americans during World War II, highlighting the impact on individuals and families. Signup and view all the answers

How is the story written differently than your history book?

The story is told through multiple perspectives, instead of just one. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the gradual revelation of the family's reason for moving have?

It shows all the negative effects of splitting up families and highlights the buildup of racism. Signup and view all the answers

Identify the point of view and tone of each chapter.

<ol> <li>Mother: Third person, depressing mood. 2. Daughter: Third person, optimistic mood. 3. Son: Third person, oppressive mood. 4. Children: Third person, bittersweet mood. 5. Father: First person, sarcastic tone.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the mother having to kill 'White Dog'?

It signifies the family's start to their new unjust life. Signup and view all the answers

How does the lack of specific identities affect the reader's relationship with characters?

It makes the book more relatable and shows how many Japanese families lost their identities. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the camp in the Utah desert.

The camp was located in a hot and dry desert, enclosed by a barbwire fence, with no source of shade. Signup and view all the answers

What justification are the prisoners given for being taken to internment camps?

They were told it was for their 'own protection' and 'national security.' Signup and view all the answers

Using textual support, identify parallels between the treatment of Japanese Americans and Jews in Nazi Germany.

Both were denied the ability to practice their religion and faced loss of identity. Signup and view all the answers

What instructions is the family given upon release from the camp?

They were instructed to speak in English, keep their heads down, and not walk in large groups. Signup and view all the answers

How did the children react to the return of their father?

They hardly recognized him and greeted him coldly. Signup and view all the answers

Why do the children avoid asking about their father's experiences while he was away?

They want to avoid hurting him and focus on the present. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Writing Perspective and Tone

The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, offering insights into each character's thoughts and emotions, contrasting with the objective nature of history books.
The tone varies across chapters, reflecting the emotional states of characters: depressing for the mother, optimistic yet naive for the daughter, oppressive for the son, and bitterly sarcastic for the father.

Themes of Family and Injustice

The gradual revelation of the family’s plight symbolizes the cumulative effects of systemic racism against Japanese Americans, creating a somber mood.
The mother's act of killing their dog represents their forced severance from a normal life, while the daughter's favorite song highlights a desire for freedom from oppression.

Identity and Connection

Characters are unnamed (the woman, the girl, the boy, the father), fostering relatability and showing the shared experiences of Japanese American families.
This lack of individuality underscores the erasure of personal identities due to wartime prejudice and collective stereotyping.

Conditions in the Internment Camp

The camp is depicted as a harsh, desolate environment with cramped, inadequately furnished living conditions, reflecting the dehumanizing experience of internment.
The father’s absence looms large; characters romanticize memories of him, indicating emotional struggles and the impact of separation on family dynamics.

Racism's Impact on Children

Examples of racism include discrimination the children face, shaping their identities and perceptions of self-worth.
The family's experiences depict the conditioning of children to accept and internalize racism, with the son and daughter grappling with feelings of guilt and shame related to their identity.

Government Justification of Internment

The government claims internment was for the "protection" and "loyalty" of Japanese Americans, revealing a deep-seated mistrust and prejudice.
These justifications confuse the Japanese American community, who find themselves being punished for crimes they did not commit.

Parallels to Historical Atrocities

The author draws parallels between the treatment of Japanese Americans and Jews during the Holocaust, highlighting similarities in oppression and loss of identity.
Instances of violence and cultural suppression, such as bans on Japanese language and religion in the camps, emphasize the shared experiences of marginalized groups.

Character Transformation

Character changes illustrate the profound effects of internment: the mother becomes more pragmatic and less concerned with appearances, while the father emerges as a worn and broken figure.
The children transition from innocence to a harsh awareness of reality, marked by shifts in their perspectives and emotional responses to their circumstances.

Reunion and Its Effects

The family's reunion with the father is strained, revealing the psychological scars and fragmentation caused by internment.
The distance between the children and their father illustrates the long-term effects of trauma and loss on familial relationships.

Desire to Forget and Memory

Both children and father avoid discussing painful experiences to shield one another from further hurt, yet their past remains vividly present.
The novel challenges the desire to forget through persistent reminders of trauma, showcasing how the characters continue to grapple with their history.

These notes encapsulate the central themes, character developments, and societal critiques present in "When the Emperor Was Divine."### Symbolic Value of Flowers

Flowers symbolize loss in the narrative, representing shattered identities and unfulfilled lives.
The moment a man reaches for a flower before being shot signifies the aspiration to regain lost identity due to war.
The family's rose bush vanishing upon their return highlights the death of their previous way of life.
The connections between the family and “strangers” are built upon mutual loss, emphasizing shared struggles and disillusionment.

Conclusion and Final Chapter: "Confession"

The father delivers the narrative in the final chapter, revealing a profound shift in his portrayal.
A tone of sarcasm and irony permeates this chapter, contrasting his earlier image as an innocent character.
This irony reflects the dissonance between public perception and internal truths during wartime, particularly regarding attitudes towards Japanese Americans.
Ending with this chapter underlines the themes of alienation versus enmity, showcasing the impact of prejudice on personal and collective identities.
The novel reveals injustices faced by Japanese Americans during World War II, illustrating deep-seated societal prejudices and their effects on families.

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Description

Explore the contrasting perspectives and tones presented in this narrative about a Japanese American family's experiences with systemic racism. The quiz delves into themes of family, injustice, and identity, highlighting how the characters' emotional states reflect their struggles. Analyze how these elements contribute to the overall message of the story.