What it amounted to was that there was a Mr. Carrack in Portland, which did not necessarily mean that there were others like him. (169)
"Have a drink for me. Drink to wherever it is I'm headed, and don't let there be any Japs or Chinks or Jews or Poles or Niggers or Frenchies, but only people." (165)
"He didn't really mean it." she replied. "He only meant that things ought to be that way but I think he knew he was only dreaming."
"He did. It's probably what makes him so unhappy and kind of brooding underneath."
"Is he really going to die?" She looked at him pleadingly, as if beseeching him to say it was not true.
All he could do was nod his head. (170)
On Friday several of you mentioned in both classes how the book has a static feel: it keeps saying the same thing over and over. I get that; I feel you. But I'd have you consider how Okada is possibly—probably? definitely?—playing with a single theme as seen through the eyes of people so traumatized that to see the forest for the trees is nearly impossible. I would propose that the novel, messy and repetitious as it is, is asking (as we said in second period Friday), "Is there really an American Dream?" That's it. Of course with that inquiry comes a host of associated questions. "If there is an AD, what exactly it is? And is it available for everyone? And if it is, why did it fail these immigrants and their American children? And if it isn't available for everyone, can it possibly exist? Can a dream that is called American be a real dream if it is available for only some Americans?"
So:
1. What do you think of my hypothesis? Do you agree? Disagree? Why or why not? What in the novel helps support your response?
2. Ken, for me, at least, is the tragic figure of the novel. When several of you said on Friday the book was depressing because Ichiro is such a depressing (and depressed) character, I agreed. But what I want to add is that the true bleakness of the novel is represented by Kenji. What do you think of that statement? Agree or disagree.
3. Kenji has a take on how to solve the problem of America—or at least the problem the novel presents. "'Go someplace where there isn't another Jap within a thousand miles. Marry a white girl or a Negro or an Italian or even a Chinese. Anything but a Japanese. After a few generations of that, you've got the thing beat...'" "'It's a fine dream, but you're not the first,'" Ichiro replies. Like so often in the novel, it's a position left uncommented on by Okada. Emi says Ken really didn't mean it; Ichiro thinks he did. What do you think of his solution to the get "the thing beat"?
That's enough for now. See you all tomorrow.
1. I agree that the novel is questioning the American Dream, but I do not think that it's questioning whether it exists. In the novel, we see that the American Dream is achievable if you allow it to be. There are so many different definitions of the dream it's hard to achieve when you are constantly unsatisfied. Instead of pondering whether the dream exists, I think Okada is asking the reader to think about how patriotism effects their lives. How faith and loyalty to the US and its system and the dream that goes along with it influences your life.
ReplyDelete2. I agree that Kenji's death is tragic and adds another level of sadness and despair to the book. Kenji dies for a country that abandoned him, and no matter how much money they give him, it is something he cannot forget. A horrible thing to see is that he is left alone in Portland. Ichiro leaves, his father and family isn't there, and Emi's in the middle of nowhere. Not only this, Kenji is such a clearheaded man and only wishes the best for people. In this last chapter, he sounded so despairingly naive when talking about how he wished there were no different races and different backgrounds. He only wanted people. A world he will never see.
3. I can honestly say I understand where he's coming from. Interracial marriages muddle the definitions of race and background. Identification of several races make people closer and more relatable. The fact is, Kenji's idea is incredibly unrealistic. Ichiro marrying a non-Japanese woman will not help solve the issues of race and racial identity.
I believe the book questions whether it can be achieved, and the stories it portrays are commentary on how it may not be within reach. Like Anna said, the dream can be achieved if you allow it, but many times the "dream" is something that cannot be reached. For Ichiro, I think, It is simple as accepting who he is and moving on with his life. But as we see in the book so far, even when given a job opportunity, that cannot fill the hole of his mistake. Even though Kenji's family has it all, they lose their son. The book's bleakness is a constant reminder of the difficulty of achieving the "dream", and even when their, it becomes something more, even father out of reach.
ReplyDeleteEven though Kenji died, I saw him adding a bit of hope to the book. His death brings him peace, and that peace, and peace with himself adds comfort to the gloom and doom of Ichiro's life, as well as the situation entirely. Kenji is on a different level of thought; he is ahead of his time. His death is of course tragic, but I think that without his injury he would not be the same person he is in the novel, and not bring that tranquility to the book he brings each chapter.
The first answer that comes to mind is obviously no. running away from the problem will do nothing for you, and especially Ichiro will feel worse than he did pervasively by simply breeding the Japanese out of his family. But at the time, in the situation, it is a realistic thought. Human nature is to create a system of class, where someone is below the other. We judge by external means and the easiest way to transcend those judgments is to join the ones judging.
previously*
Delete1. I think that the novel presents the idea that there is an American Dream, but you have to search for it through the cloudy, fucked up, confusing world and rules and lies and shit surrounding people’s true feelings and emotions. I think that there is an American Dream, but maybe it’s not just American. Maybe it’s an international dream based in America. Why is it called an American dream anyways? Is it only allowed in America. For me, the whole idea of the American Dream in this book in particular is really murky. The book itself is confusing to read for me and therefore, hard for me to comprehend an underlying theme throughout it. In the novel, you can see that people can achieve the American Dream only if they “submit” or assimilate to America. If, like the older Yamadas, particularly Ichiro’s mother, you fight against being American, you make it harder for yourself to achieve the American Dream because you do not believe that you are American.
ReplyDelete2. I agree that Kenji represents the bleakness of the novel. He is the saddest character in the novel because he cannot change his circumstances and they are just awful that he was thrown into the place where he is now. However, Ichiro is annoyingly depressed. He isn’t helping himself, when he really can be. When he turned down the job offer from Mr. Carrack, I got so frustrated with him because he keeps moping around and not changing ANYTHING. He feels sorry for himself and he doesn’t change his circumstances. Kenji is in the worst situation and he can’t get himself out and he still doesn’t mope about it.
3. I don’t know if that really “gets the thing beat”. I think that maybe it makes dealing with the idea of race easier in some aspects, but maybe it just makes dealing with it that much harder because you’re fighting against something that will always be staring you down in the face and it’s sort of a “fuck you” to older and more traditional generations, which may be what Ichiro or Ken is looking for.
1. Yes, I agree that the novel questions the reality of the American Dream. Regardless of the actions of the characters, their fate varies greatly and does not reflect upon those actions. What some people are putting into life, they are not receiving the expected outcome: happiness. Nobody in the book is happy, yet many of them are hardworking. The novel is very bleak and presents a future of uncertainty, and an air of no control over one’s own life.
ReplyDelete2. Kenji is a very tragic figure. He has done everything “correctly” in his life, yet there he is, dying alone in a hospital at such a young age. Ichiro is a sad character because he despises himself for his decisions (or lack thereof), and is unable to progress, making him depressing to himself and to us. Kenji, on the other hand, is considerate and just, yet for some reason he must suffer. His great actions amount to nothing and he dies, giving us the idea that no matter what we do, we can never stop the inevitable.
3. I think Kenji is saying that for Ichiro to be accepted by America, he must burn all connections and notions of allegiance to another country, start with a blank slate, and integrate. He says that “Americanism” cannot be achieved through acts of patriotism, but only through gradually living and learning the way of the land, uninfluenced by other forces. I took it as less of “breeding out the Japanese” and more of assimilation into a world completely different from what he grew up with, but what he seemingly wants as well.
1. I think the novel presents the idea of an American Dream but its just a question of ‘are you who society favors?’ I think only very specific people achieve the ideal American Dream and the way those people reach that dream is by society favoring them. The idea of the dream varies from person to person obviously and what someone defines as success but I think Ichiro thinks that if he tells people he is a veteran that that’ll help give him an edge and help achieve his happiness. Even if he actually was a veteran, it still probably wouldn’t work out for him because he is not white and at this point in time, America favors white people and white people will achieve the dream.
ReplyDelete2. I agree that Kenji represents the bleakness in the novel and I think that he obviously has more to be depressed about than Ichiro. However, I think that Kenji shows that even though one can be burdened with a lot of pain and sacrifice that you can deal with it and you don’t let it define and dominate your life which is what Ichiro does. I think Kenji shows Ichiro and the reader that you can suffer but you don’t let it consume you and keep you from moving forward in your life.
3. Its not a good idea. You cant just avoid Japanese people and expect the issue to go away. I think that despite who you marry and despite who you choose to avoid, you’re going to struggle with your identity and just because you don’t surround yourself with people from your heritage wont make your life any easier. There are still going to be struggles.
1. I do think that the novel is bringing up the question of whether the American Dream truly exists. The America Dream is often seen as the story of an immigrant family that comes to America and starts from the bottom and eventually have a better living than the one they had back in the place where they came from. America is seen as the place where everybody can have his or her slice of happiness. However, Okada provides a novel where the characters whose parents had achieved the dream have their right to be American taken away. If the dream does exist, can it be taken away just like that? Maybe the dream of doing something is possible but its rewards are simply hopeful dreams that can be shatter in one moment without any warning.
ReplyDelete2. I agree that Ken is a sad character and maybe the character that has the most effect on the reader. He is he image of the all American boy who goes to war to prove his love for his country. He does not die a Mel-Gibson-as-the-patriot- kind of death in which he runs through enemy lines and kills many Nazis takes a hit gets back up and kills some more, he dies in a hospital away from his family. His unnoticed deaths begs the question of what one has to do to prove one is American enough.
3. I agree that people from one ethnicity should try to expand and everybody should come together and to stop seeing someone as different by their ethnicity. I think that this is very important to understand and that is something that is not easy to achieve and will require a lot of work from everybody. However, I do not agree that one should forget about one’s race and try to ignore who one is. We should embrace who we are as well as who others are.
1. Yes, I agree that the novel is presenting a question about the American Dream. Up until this point, it really seemed hopeless for Ichiro and everyone in his position. Even the people who went to war are in bad situations (and not just because of their injuries). The thing is, we know it gets better. It took a long time, and things are still nowhere close to perfect, but things have improved. People like Mr. Carrack may be on in a million, but they existed and the still exist. Ichiro has every right to feel the way he feels, but at the same time, I’m a bit annoyed with how he handled everything in this chapter. Opportunities for happiness and the American dream sprang up left and right. He convinced himself that he wouldn’t be able to do the job because he was a No-No Boy. Mr. Carrack had nothing but sympathy for him and he still turned it down. He had a chance to be happy with Emi and he ran away. The American Dream is there, but he seems unwilling to take it.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, I agree with this as well. Kenji is in the worst situation and he’s facing it with the best outlook. Because of that, I’m even more inclined to feel bad for him. He’s not just dying; he’s dying a really horrible death. He made the choice that Ichiro wishes he had made, and Ichiro envies him. That’s almost insulting. Even so, Kenji cares about Ichiro a lot. His storyline is definitely the most depressing.
3. From one standpoint, yes that would be the best way to start some change. If all of the Japanese people stayed together in tight knit groups forever, they’d be discriminated against forever. Going out and meeting new people is definitely a good idea, but doing it to the extent that Ichiro might actually give up something else good to follow the plan is not. I don’t know if Ichiro ran away from Emi at the end because he wanted to follow the plan or because he was just uncomfortable wit the whole thing, but if it as the former, it was the wrong choice.
1. I would definitely have to agree with your hypothesis. Okada does such a great job, at giving you one picture painted by as many people as possible. We, in a couple pages, can see upwards of 5 different people's perspectives on things. When Okada shows us the no-no boys and each of their reasons for saying no, we hear the same choice with all sorts of different reasons behind it. Okada shows us how the American dream is both the same and different for all of us. There may be one ultimate goal but every one of us has a different way of getting there.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with you. Kenji is the character who has achieved the dream, he has a good family, he has the money, yet how has his life turned out? He said yes, he went to war, lost a leg and is now on the verge of death. For some reason it is so much worse for us, in society, to see someone who has reached so high to fall so far. Kenji is a war hero, a good man with a positive outlook on life who has had such misery forced on him. Kenji represents the lack of hope in the novel. He is the figure with the most promising life, yet even he cannot prosper.
3. Running away from a problem is never a solution. Assimilation to the extent he proposes eradicates the problem by erasing the culture. In order to fix the broken society, one must balance assimilation and culture. You cannot leave your culture behind, yet there is no way to to solve the problem without assimilating to American society.
I definitely agree with you here, John. I think that, through the struggle that we see repeat itself and present itself again and again through these different characters, there is truly a commentary that this struggle is simply all there is to it, that maybe there is no dream to be achieved unless one fits all aspects of the image that American society has defined as being "American". So I guess I am saying that there is in fact an American Dream to be achieved, but it's not for everyone who lives in America or comes to America for that specific reason by any means. Okada is saying in this novel that the American Dream is exclusively for Americans, and I think that where the struggle comes in and where things get messy is defining "American". Who gets to be an American, exactly. Who gets to qualify as someone of this country and who is aloud this opportunity to achieve the American Dream. I say this because between our characters, for the most parts immigrants or characters with ancestry in another country that is NOT America, there really has been no talk of hope whatsoever, no talk of reaching a certain goal or American Dream. It has all been about the struggle of becoming a "true American", of fitting in to a society where they do not fit that society's definition of American. It's almost as if they are two steps behind the American Dream in that before they can even attempt to or think about pursuing it, they have to struggle with and deal with the qualifications for simply getting a chance.
ReplyDeletePersonally I do not see Kenji as a tragic figure. While I would of course agree that his situation is tragic, he himself is not a tragic figure in that he expresses goals and hopes for a better life, he expresses an alternative to the lives that this community is leading. His goals and hopes for a better life, while they may not be defined as the American Dream, but maybe they are, are positive and thoughtful, and most importantly, they are further than anyone else in this book has gotten in terms of progression and overcoming the struggle that they all face. One cannot begin to progress without a plan, or without an actual goal of that progression rather, and Kenji seems to be the only one who has that. As Cam said, Kenji is ahead of the rest. So in many ways, Kenji is not a tragic figure but more so a beacon for the rest of the community. He represents the way to move forward through his vision of a better life.
I would say that this is a solution to the problem. I don't see this as running away from the problem, but more so confronting the problem head on. By doing this one is not just shying away in their own Japanese American community, but they are attempting to join and almost embrace the America that originally denied them. It's seems to me as if it's one way of actually getting out there into the thick of things to find and eventually solve the problem they face.
1. As we have said before in the book Ichiro stresses the use and concept of America so many times in the book. In your hypothesis you also hone in on the pure American Dream. This fantasy American Dream is real and there are a number of ways to obtain it, but the characters we have seen so far are all flawed. Clearly the main character, Ichiro, has problems. He is confused with himself. His mind is torn and he constantly blames himself. Time will heal his wounds even if he thinks otherwise. Ichiro has had chances for the American Dream. We see one in this very chapter when he attempts to obtain a job. Ichiro turns down Mr. Carrack even when presented with a very nice offer. Ichiro doubted himself and this led to his downfall here. I think the American Dream is available to all if and only if they have a clear head and are determined to never quit untill they succeed.
ReplyDelete2. I very much agree. What really struck me was the scene when Ichiro went to visit Kenji in the hospital during the morning. The scene was depressing in a way that left me speech less. I agree with the statement that Kenji is the most depressing because of his dreams. The dreams that he will not be able to fulfill or even see. He had such an inspiring attitude and moved everyone he was around such as Emi and Ichiro. He dies from something out of his control when all he wanted to do was help other people. His ideas were valid and though they would take time they were right. Looking at America in this day and age its diversity has grown even larger. The depressing part is Kenji accepted his defeat humbly. I think he may be one of the best characters in the book and it was unfair way to die. Kenji deserved better.
3. I'm not sure it's reasonable. How could you expect to find a place that has no Japanese? Facing the problems that society has with discrimination would be the first step to a solution. Just moving away from the Japanese may be okay for a small amount of time but you cannot run from your problems. Ichiro must face his ancestry and accept it before he can move on with his life. I am not saying he needs to marry a Japanese woman but I also do not think turning his back on his past is a smart thing either. Time will heal the wounds in society and in his head.
1. I think that the novel is questioning what the American Dream is. It is clear that the Dream for Ichiro's parents is different from that of someone who was born in America, especially if they are white. I don't think the novel suggests that the American Dream does not exist, specifically because of the scene with the Kannos. However, like Tanja said, I do think the novel questions who the American Dream was designed for. The book is criticizing what Kenji pointed out, that the American Dream is not a thing for people; rather it is for whites, or japs, or jews.
ReplyDelete2. Before chapter 7, I might have disagreed with that statement. But in this chapter Kenji showed how truly depressed he was. Up to this point, for me at least, it seemed the Kenji was always trying to find the best in things. He was honest, but not in a cynical way. I really appreciated Kenji's optimism, even though his future was bleak. But now, it is clear that Kenji really is a tortured, miserable person.
3. I think it is a great thing to do what Kenji is suggesting, but not a necessary one. I think that it is beautiful when people from different backgrounds can mix and learn from each other, but it is not something that should be forced. People should associate with who they feel comfortable with, whether it is part of their ethnicity or not. I think the solution to the problem Kenji is discussing is to dissolve the barriers between races and ethnicities, but not to force movement between them.
1. I completely agree. The author, Okada, presents us with individuals who have invested their life in the American dream, turning their backs on their culture and home country in the process. And yet he presents evidence that shows this goal to be contrary to their beliefs. I believe Okada presents us with an American dream where one must conform, completely and totally, to be able to achieve it. We are presented this with Kenji's family, who, one can argue, has achieved the American dream, but to do so had to conform to the standards of society, much like Esther, for their hard work to come to fruition. Families such as Ichiro, families that are so divided about their allegiance, cannot hope to achieve the dream, and are lost in the confusion of cultural dedication, as we see in Ichiro.
ReplyDelete2. While Ken is indeed tragic, I feel that the most depressing factor is Ichiro. Kenji at least seems to have come to terms with his situation, but while his situation is sad one cannot help but to admire him for his attitude towards his condition. What makes Ichiro so depressing is his indecision, his aimless floating and constant state of depression.
3.
I believe the solution is to dissolve the lines of race. By inter-marrying, the very stark lines of race as presented in this novel can slowly become more and more murky, to the point where they are no longer discernible. The solution is to turn the multiple nationalities and races into a conglomeration, to dissolve national and cultural boundaries. But heritage and culture is important, and I believe that such a loss is something that would hinder more than help.
1. Yes, it is clear that there is a strong commentary on the American Dream as a whole in this novel. In fact there was a section of the reading in which Ichiro speculated as to where the ideal America is, and if it even exists. This section directly questions everything that the American Dream is about. In addition we have the meeting with Ken's family in the previous chapter. While I wouldn't say that Okada is strictly focusing on the specific question, "does the AD exist?" I would say that it is a core part of the novel if not the primary question that is being asked. Even in the most basic sections of the novel when we discuss why immigration exists as a concept the American dream is brought into play. Okada discusses how the Japanese immigrants came to America in the hopes of making money and returning home. This in itself is yet another commentary on the American dream, only going to show the ongoing question, "Does the American dream exist, and if so what is it?"
ReplyDelete2. Once again, I agree and I don't. He is, in my opinion, a contributing factor to the overwhelming bleakness and darkness of the novel, but he is not the only or even major contributor. Ichiro, his mother, his father, Taro, Bull, Ralph, Emi, they all contribute just as much to the overall depression of the novel. We have alcoholics, crushed romances, desperate children, and a level of insecurity on a communal level that goes beyond a good portion of the books we've read this year even without Kenji. Ken, his leg, and his attitude just seem to add to the growing feeling of bleakness that is also being perpetuated by the various other characters of the book.
3. As several have said before me, it is certainly a potential solution for Ichiro's troubles, but it definitely isn't his only option. He could choose any number of ways to go about living the rest of his life if he had the motivation to do so. He could've taken the goddamn perfect job offer he was given in Portland, or he could have lived with Emi and been a farmer, there are any number of choices he has to make, and running away is only one of them.
1. I agree that the book is calling the American Dream into question. In Ichiro's mind it is only available to those who were loyal to America during War World 2 and white people. The book presents Kenji's family and Bob's family to support this claim. They are both struggling to cope with the effects that the war had on their families, but they are all settled into America. Ichiro's family is crumbling to the ground. His mother is driven crazy by her love for Japan and her detachment to the country that she has lived in for almost forty years. After living in America all his life, Ichiro's brother can't understand his mother's attachment to Japan and Is angry with Ichiro for making him live as the brother of a no-no boy. Though there are obstacles in Ichiro's path to the American Dream, Ichiro won't let himself live it. The book has strong themes connecting to racism and prejudice, but the racism drives into a more personal place in the book. The country has made Ichiro believe that he doesn't deserve the American Dream. Even when a ticket to the American Dream is presented to him in the form of an engineering job, Ichiro can't take it. Mr. Carrick doesn't ask Ichiro about the war, but he feels the need to tell Mr.Carrick anyways. The book says that the dream is questionable because the encroaching prejudices and cruelty make people feel like they don't deserve to live it.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with the statement. Ken had to make the same decision that Ichiro did and in the eyes of the country he made the right choice. He went to war to fight for democracy so that he could slowly die in a hospital and not say good bye to all of the people that he loved. On the outside it seems as though Kenji has an amazing family and a lot going for him, but on the inside his rotting leg is slowly killing him. Ichiro says that he would switch places with Ken just so he wouldn't have to live the rest of his life with a sign that said "no-no boy" hanging over his head. Kenji doesn't outwardly show his depression in the same way as Ichiro, but it is just as deeply rooted. All he wants to do is make things right for the people around him before he dies. He tries to give Ichiro a sense of purpose and he sends a letter in hopes of Emi's husband's return. Ken lets go of himself as he slowly dies. He doesn't worry about himself, throughout the entire book he doesn't complain once about what happened to him. He leaves quietly and spends his last days still only thinking of others.
3. Avoiding all ties to Japan will not get rid of all of Ichiro's problems. He can't move on until he has accepted the part of him that is Japanese and found a way to reclaim his American identity as well. He was forced to choose before and he chose Japan. Choosing America now won't change the past and will only cause him trouble in the future. Emi says that Ichiro has to feel the patriotic like he did before the war when the national anthem plays, as if approaching his American side will make everything better. I can see where Kenji and Emi are coming from, but hiding from Japan won't do him any good. As much as Ichiro needs to accept his ancestry, he also needs to accept himself and the decisions that he has made. He can only hide from himself for so long.
1. I agree that there is an obvious commentary on the American Dream, especially through the description of the Kanno family. However while this family is living the proclaimed "A.D," Ken is also dying a slow and painful death. I honestly think that between the Kanno family, the Yamada's, and Ichiro's family, Okada makes it pretty clear that no one is living the American Dream. His commentary is rather bleak and definitely works upon what Jenny said in class last week: "If you are not white, you are not wanted." Okada is clearly stating that the American dream can only be possible for "real Americans," who are basically only the white Americans.
ReplyDelete2. I completely agree with that statement. While Ichiro can easily be thought of as one of the most depressing characters of the novel, I actually think he is just a complainer and likes to feel sorry for himself while the person who deserves to feel depressed, Ken, is battling through life without complaints. I think that in that sense Ken is both a depressing case and a strong case. It is sad to see someone slowly die and it is especially sad to see how it effects those around him, like his father and Emi. Kenji does add to the bleakness of the novel as well as add a sort of perspective on the question "should I really feel bad for Ichiro?"
3. I think that this is a cowardly and stupid solution. Ichiro shouldn't be running away from himself and his past, but he should be thriving and learning to move on and make a life for himself. He needs to do what he wants to do, not go marry some white girl only for the benefit in generations to come. I think that by choosing the solution that Ken gave him, Ichiro would just become even more depressed and full of self-loathing.
1. I definitely think Okada does present an American Dream, but I think there are limitations to the kind of people who can actually achieve it and be content with their lives. For white people, the American Dream is in reach, and even if you’re German or Italian, there’s still a chance for you, regardless of where you came from. But if you are any other race, it’s almost impossible. If you’re black or Asian or anybody whose not fair skinned, you are constantly under scrutiny and pushed aside by society. Even if you are doing all right for yourself, like the Kanno family, there’s still something preventing you from being truly happy. There’s a cost when desiring the American Dream, and in the novel, Ichiro and his family and his community are paying for it.
ReplyDelete2. Kenji represents something very depressing in that even if you do the right thing in the eyes of American society, you’re still suffering. Kenji put his life on the line for a country that won’t accept him, and he is going to die because of it. It’s such an injustice and unfairness. It adds to the commentary Okada makes on the American Dream: yes, you may be able to achieve the dream by becoming an American hero, but you’re still going to suffer.
3. It’s upsetting that Kenji thinks this is the only solution to the problems his race has in America, but it’s probably true. If you’re white in America, it’s almost as if you have it made. You may still be poor or sick or whatever, but if you’re white you don’t have to deal with the racism and unfairness that is really getting Ichiro down. Even if Kenji was joking, it’s still something that crossed his mind and something he think about as the only escape to what is happening to his community, and that’s horrifying.
I believe the book questions the American Dream and specifically the “American” part of it, because in the end how is it different from the Japanese dream? Or the Italian dream? Or the German dream? Just like Americans in America, Japanese-Americans and others are trying to achieve “the dream” or “the life” of happiness, freedom, and success. As we see in the novel Kenji’s family wants and has tried its hardest to achieve the American dream just like any other Americans; and I don’t think it’s because the Kunno’s want to achieve IT specifically, but simply because they want to live happily and comfortably in a country where living that way seems easier than in their home country.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree in some sense because when confronted with his character I always feel some hopelessness, because there is nothing anyone can do to save him from dying so soon. However, I also am always inspired by his seemingly hopeful/cheerful/positive outlook on life. There is something worth living for and Kenji knows it, unfortunately it’s hard to find oneself in this oppressive society.
I read that section as Ken’s inspiring speech for Ichiro to hold on to. I think getting “the thing beat” is what Ken would have tried to do if he had the chance to live out his life fully. It seems that it’s the solution many young ones aim for when they cannot find themselves and want to desperately achieve happiness and crave for things and society to make sense. As for Ichiro, he’s figured out what his problem is (not the solution) and knows that if he’s ever going to overcome it it’s not going to be by running away. I don’t think “beating the thing” in that way should be one of Ichiro’s goals. He should focus on “beating the thing” because he’s found his purpose in life and has a meaningful plan which makes sense to him.
1. The novel is about Ichiro, a man who has to live with the regret and pain of a decision that he has made and can't undo. That is the human message that is described in the book. However, if one looks at the book in a broader extra-human standpoint, we can see that the book has a lot to say about America, and most of it isn't very pretty. The book describes the injustices and contradictions of the US government, the way that Ichiro was mistreated as a citizen. The book shows how the American people do not always act as they are supposed to, and don't always represent the freedom and equality that our country should represent. I think that this book does a good job of de-romanticizing America. It shows that the American dream is not as perfect nor beautiful as it seems to some people. In reality, the American Dream is an ugly thing, determined by race and gender and social class, not personal integrity.
ReplyDelete2. Kenji seems to represent the opposite side of Ichiro. He represents Ichiro if had he said yes to the draft. What is so bleak about this contrast is that both Kenji and Ichiro are doomed. Either way, between picking yes and no, if you're Japanese, your life could be destroyed.
3. What Kenji is talking about is stopping racial injustice by becoming white. What's sad about this is that Kenji doesn't see any possibility of people getting along as they are. The only way in his mind to reach racial equality is for everyone to be the same race. His solution is no solution, it just avoids the problem, the problem being that people are inclined to judge others based on their race.
1. I think the novel presents the American Dream as an ideal that can probably never be reached. Okada likes what the American Dream, as he defines it, stands for: equality, freedom of opportunity, and all of that good stuff. What he considers dangerous is the homogenization of the American Dream, speaking specifically of the "red brick churches with clean white steeples," and the rest of every single community in America- the tendency to view a Chinatown not as American, but as Chinese.
ReplyDelete2. Ken is quite possibly the more tragic figure of the novel, even more so than Ichiro. Ken does all of the "right" things, yet ends up with the worst lot of all, his death just a small step away. What has his service to his country, his helping his country to realize her mistake, brought him but pain and misery? It seems almost ironic that such a fate would befall such a man. I think Ichiro's desire to be like Ken, to have his life, speaks to the difference in what they think is important. Ken definitely does not place as much value on the preside of being a veteran as the waiter at the cafe or even Ichiro do.
3. When I think about this question, it brings to mind what is for me one of the fundamental questions of the novel: to what extent does our American society require assimilation? Obviously marrying a girl of a different race will provide an opportunity to further diversify the family culturally, but the inevitable downside to this is diluting both of the parent cultures, watering them down. My feelings on the matter are that marrying outside his culture won't help with Ichiro's problems at all. He is primarily concerned with what it means to be loyal to America and to not be questioned about it wherever he goes, almost to the point of obsession.
America is racist, and no matter how politically correct Okada is trying to be, it still seems to be his main point. Through Kenji thoughts he shows the pettiness of people's racial preferences. The American Dream is possible for people that arent white, but it's a helluva lot harder, and maybe it's different. People that arent caucasian can't reep the benefits of the good ole' american dream, because it's not the american dream, its the jap-living-in-america dream, which is very different than the normal american dream. Any immigrant, or minority living in America can be betrayed at any minute, and it's not a big deal because they're not american, they're japerican.
ReplyDeleteIf Kenji made the "right decision" by going to war, it's hard to fully comprehend why. Not only does he lose his leg, but he loses the rest of his life. Being faced with the consequences of being a yes yes or a no no allows to show the unbearable decision these people were faced with. The tragedy is that Kenji loses more, literally, by being japanese and fighting for america.
After many generations, eliminating the japanese blood with probably allow for more opportunities. BUt who knows what will happen generations later, it may be futile to attempt to eradicate the jap-ness. To a certain extent though, I think it pictures beautifully what america is about. Japanese and Chinese and Italians and the white girls and negroes all come together to form a larger entity. Intead of being self-segregated, I feel like losing your background and joining it up with someone else's is only available in america.
1. I think I have to agree with your hypothesis. In this novel, the American Dream seems to be more of a unreachable ideal than something that can actually be achieved. I think that the book is questioning the Dream itself, and the role that its immigrants have to play in it. Can immigrants truly achieve the American Dream? Or for each specific nationality, is it their dream and not the American Dream? Racism has always existed in America. The way I see it is that the American Dream failed some people because don’t view everyone as Americans, but rather, what the color of their skin indicates. And that makes it okay to take away their rights, and their dream.
ReplyDelete2. I have to agree with you on this. While Ichiro is depressing, Kenji’s situation is downright bleak. In Ichiro’s mind, Kenji made the right decision, going to war to fight for a country that hates him, and then get his leg injured so that He dies within two years. He is a truly good person, who can see people for who they truly are, and is a kind person. And yet, he is the first person in this novel to die.
3. I don’t think that this is the only solution. Granted, it IS a solution, and an easy one at that. So many problems, such as discrimination, become almost nonexistent if you are white in America, and that is true for many countries (except maybe not being white). But, I feel that Ichiro just needs to accept his ancestry, not try to deny it. He needs to accept that, but also accept that he is American, and he has made some bad decisions, but isn’t a bad person.
1) I agree with the hypothesis to a certain extent. While this book has many themes, the American Dream is one that overlies each theme and is behind every action that these characters make. We see The United States through the eyes of a minority, and the desperate measures that these people take to be a part of the American culture. I would say a more accurate hypothesis would be that Okada asks one question over and over again, "what does it mean to be an American?". Each character in No No Boy struggles with this question and is hesitant to come out and call himself an American. The polarizing elements of World War II have taken the freedom of the American Dream and turned it into a matter of isolation.
ReplyDelete2) I disagree. While Kenji's situation is terrible and bleak, he makes the most of it. He knows that he is dying but he doesn't mope and whine all day. Ichiro, on the other hand, is in perfect health, but can't seem to dig himself out of his own sadness. He makes no effort to do anything about it and instead finds new people that will listen to him whine. In my opinion, Ichiro is over-thinking his situation a bit, and should take note of Kenji's defiance in the face of oppression. The depressing element, like Graham said, is the way that Kenji has accepted his death, as it makes us appreciate him even more.
3) I would have to disagree with Kenji's idea. Racial tensions are high, but it's also a wartime in which the American government is not as sympathetic towards foreigners as it has been in the past. The answer is not to make an attempt to erase one's racial identity. White people are not the only Americans and I don't think that American culture is truly promoting that idea either. There is a certain element of the American Dream that promotes sticking with your culture, as oppressive as it may be. Like Cam said, running away from the problem does nothing to physically solve it. It is most important in a time like this to act defiantly.
1. I agree with your hypothesis. What comes with achieving the american dream is an identity and self-worth. Clearly those things aren't present but are being fought for. Okada is absolutely questioning the dream and what it means. The dream for some is to be able to fight for their country and perhaps die an honorable death. America is forcing an entire race into one view of the american dream. Okada questions the American dream by showing the specificity of the dream at this time. You either live out this one option or you're done.
ReplyDelete2. I agree. But I think Ken finds a way to push through that bleakness and become happy, or content, with the cards he's been dealt. His death was imminent and that of course is an incredibly bleak thought, but he is still able to find purpose in his life, unlike Ichiro.
3. I don't think it's possible. Racism is so complicated because it's about a person's appearance but it's also about another person's ignorance. If they attempt to kill their race by simply letting it fade out, that won't stop the horror of what's been done to them and what will be done to others.
1. I think Okada makes the reader ask just how attainable the American Dream really is. I'm torn on which side he argues, though. Obviously most of the lives of the characters seem to support the idea that the American Dream is more of pipe dream, but then you have the Okadas. The Okadas, as we said, are pretty much the spitting image of what the typical American Dream is all about.
ReplyDelete2.I would agree. Kenji is the only one that hasn't seemed to give up, but has to anyway to face his reality. He faces the bleakest situation of all, and it really does kill him. It feels like he was the strongest character in the novel, and even he was broken by his situation.
3. I think that his solution makes sense. If you have two segregated groups, they are inherently not equal to each other. His solution would get rid of "Japs or Chinks or Jews or Poles or Niggers or Frenchies" and just have "people." However, I think it is a slippery slope to say that we should all abandon our cultural identities and become one homogeneous group. The idea of America is supposedly that we're a "melting pot" of different cultures and peoples.
I think this book is definitely asking us to take a second look at the American Dream. I have never considered the name of the dream, being American, and if I look back at the talks we have been having in class about what an American really is, I think Okada really makes us question if the American Dream is reachable by all who attempt to make a good life in America. I think it is not because there is still racism, and people afraid of change. Unfortunately, Okada does not give us an answer, he wants us to base our beliefs on the happenings in this book, and so far the AD seems so far out of these characters reach. I want that to attain it because of everything they have been through, and I think that they deserve it more than some other Americans, however I do not think they can attain it because of what has happened to them.
ReplyDelete2.I think Kenji is really sad, and has nothing to look forward to. I think he thought that there would be glory when he got back from war, or at least from his sickness. But when he got home and saw that the overt racism was still full force, and he realized that maybe he did not do as much as he thought he has he has given up. I think he used to be the strongest and even he was cut down by this horrible America.
3. i think the solution is depressing but effective in their community and in their lives. Like we talked about in class there is always someone trying to be more superior than someone else, and in this case they believe if they could get away from races entirely and not worry about the color of their skin they would be able to succeed, so I think his solution to what he believes is his problem makes sense, but I think condemns America, and should.
1) I definitely agree that the novel is about the American Dream, and I believe it battles with why the American dream exists in such an intangible manner. It shows a great number of hopeless people that, for the most part, seem to hope for a better and more well integrated America. I do believe that the dream is real even though it has failed so many, because the point of the dream seems to be to give hope to the hopeless.
ReplyDelete2) I agree that Ken adds a large amount of bleakness to the novel, but I feel as if his comes with more hope because he is okay with his situation. I feel that Ken's positive and hopeful attitude definitely helps brighten an otherwise fairly dark and helpless novel.
3) It definitely makes sense. In this way, racial segregation could definitely be made harder by the fact that, in time, so many people would be of mixed race that creating little pockets of closed culture such as the Japanese in Seattle would be very hard. It does seem hard though since Ichiro himself does not interact much with people of other races. The idea makes sense but, as Ichiro pointed out, it's just a dream.
1. I think that the American Dream is very important in the book. Not everyone seems to have it, but I still think it is achievable by everyone in the book. Ichiro may be depressed and not want to achieve anything in life, but Emi shows him that he can have a normal and fulfilling life if he wants to. At the same time though, it may not be achievable by everyone, because Ichiro's parents generation didn't achieve it. Almost the whole generation came to America to make money in order to be richer when they moved back to Japan, but the majority of the generation failed to make the amount of money they wanted. I think the American Dream is possible to achieve for everyone, it is just harder for some people than others.
ReplyDelete2. I also think that Kenji is the most bleak character in the novel. His situation in life seems to me like a much worse situation than Ichiro. I don't even think Ichiro made a wrong decision by refusing to go to war. So far, 3/4 of the people we've seen who've been to war have horrible lives or are dead. The only person who hasn't returned and had a horrible life is Kenji's friend, but he was a total asshole so he doesn't even count.
3. I don't think that Kenji and Ichiro can escape from their heritage. It is an important part of their life, but it also doesn't define everything in their lives. They can chose who they want to be, and their heritage shouldn't be the main defining feature of their life. They should embrace their heritage but not let it be the defining feature of their life.