Alienation In Joy Kogawa's Obasan
Literature has been used to tackle a variety of social and political topics. The topic of alienation, especially when it comes to minorities, played a part in Joy Kogawa’s Obasan. She was able to reveal Canada’s prejudice against Japanese Canadians and values of White supremacy through the alienation of its main character, Naomi Nakane. Naomi’s first encounter with the distancing effect of alienation occurs when she is still a child. During school, one of her classmates tells her, “All the Jap kids at school are going to be sent away and their bad and your’re a Jap.” (84). The fact that a little girl is saying this tells us that she may have heard this from her parents or other authority figures, which implies that some portion of the
…show more content…
However, her aunt and uncle think going would be unwise. They believe that, “The RCMP, they are saying, are always looking for signs of disloyalty to Canada.” (163). Even in school, Naomi is still alienated in the eyes of the law. Canada values loyalty from its citizens and thinks it’s morally acceptable to use the law to seek out dissidents. Naomi’s activities outside of school were also as the Canadian government implemented, mentioned by Aunt Emily: “A curfew that applies only to us…” (102). The government seemed adamant in keeping the Japanese under strict control even in exile. Almost as soon as the war ends, the government sends Naomi and her family away from Slocan. When Naomi asks why their family can’t return home, her brother simply replies “Because. That’s why,” (206). The decision to keep Naomi’s family out of their homes is based solely Canada’s racial prejudice. This was brought up later in Naomi’s adult life by Aunt Emily when she says, “We weren’t allowed to return to the West Coast like that.” (40). The government barred her family, as well as thousands of other Japanese Canadians from British Colombia even after the war was over. In conclusion, Naomi Nakane’s experiences as a child shed light on the injustices that thousands of Japanese Canadians suffered at the hands of their
However, her aunt and uncle think going would be unwise. They believe that, “The RCMP, they are saying, are always looking for signs of disloyalty to Canada.” (163). Even in school, Naomi is still alienated in the eyes of the law. Canada values loyalty from its citizens and thinks it’s morally acceptable to use the law to seek out dissidents. Naomi’s activities outside of school were also as the Canadian government implemented, mentioned by Aunt Emily: “A curfew that applies only to us…” (102). The government seemed adamant in keeping the Japanese under strict control even in exile. Almost as soon as the war ends, the government sends Naomi and her family away from Slocan. When Naomi asks why their family can’t return home, her brother simply replies “Because. That’s why,” (206). The decision to keep Naomi’s family out of their homes is based solely Canada’s racial prejudice. This was brought up later in Naomi’s adult life by Aunt Emily when she says, “We weren’t allowed to return to the West Coast like that.” (40). The government barred her family, as well as thousands of other Japanese Canadians from British Colombia even after the war was over. In conclusion, Naomi Nakane’s experiences as a child shed light on the injustices that thousands of Japanese Canadians suffered at the hands of their