Afterwards By Susan Keny Summary

This New York Times published article written by short-story writer and novelist, Susan Kenney, critically analyzes the novel with a heavy focus on anti-Japanese bias following Pearl Harbor. To begin her article, Kenney explores the various ethnic groups immigrating to the United States and to the Amity Harbor, the setting of the novel, along with the diverse communities they formed. She claims that World War Two destroyed any sense of community in the Amity Harbor, arguing, “Their isolation within the spectacularly beautiful but harsh environment has fostered the illusion of community, an illusion abruptly shattered by the advent of World War II.” Afterwards, Kenney continues to examine the effect of the war on the citizens of the island.
She uses Carl’s mother, Etta Heine, along with members of the jury, to demonstrate the rebirth of anti-Japanese bias post-war. Additionally, Kenney discusses the effect of the internment camps on the Japanese Americans, stating, “We share their deprivation and humiliation in the notorious internment camp of Manzanar.”

I will use this source to support both my main arguments. A majority of the article discusses the racists citizens of Amity Harbor, such as Etta Heine, the fisherman, and the jury. Likewise, Kenny claims that the jurors’ decision is based mostly on anti-Japanese sentiment prevalent in the novel. This will help my argument that Japanese Americans, and other Asian Americans, were not given a fair trial, a right granted to all Americans. Additionally, while examining the romance between Ishmael and Hatsue, Kenny states, “Neither the romance nor the friendship that they have shared since childhood will survive the bitter division brought about by the war.” This quote will help me introduce the failed romance between Ishmael and Hatsue.