Korea: A Burden
According to Yumi, Korea is "like being poor or having a shameful family you could not cast off." From her viewpoint, Korean ancestry is nothing but a burden. It only affects a person negatively (no positive impact), and is nearly impossible to rid oneself of the shame of being Korean. The examples she chooses are interesting, because they are both issues that Noa has experienced. He spent the majority of his life poor, with the Baek family only recently becoming successful. Noa also has great shame for his father, but Hansu's power made it hard for Noa to escape his influence. However, Noa manages to escape both of these things, as well as the shame of his Korean ancestry, when he changes his name and starts a new life. This speaks to the truth of Yumi's statement in the time period, as Noa was able to leave behind the other two burdens once he was officially no longer Korean.
Japan: An Unloving Stepmother
Yumi describes Japan as "a beloved stepmother who refused to love you." By referring to Japan as a stepmother, she puts distance between herself and the country. She may see Japan as her home or motherland, but she and the country lack the bond that they should have. By referring to the country as "beloved," Yumi shows how she truly does care about Japan, even if she isn't as connected to it as she would like to be. However, she also says that Japan refuses to love her. Despite her efforts and love for the country, it has been harsh and unforgiving. She has suffered her entire life in Japan and knows it won't get any better, which is why "she could not imagine clinging to [it]." Despite her love for the country, she knows that it's time to let it go.
I agree with your analysis of Noa's escape in the context of Yumi's thinking. I did not recognize the importance of the word "beloved." I also think that Yumi devoted her life to Japan and it has repeatedly let her down.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your analysis, especially on the "unloving stepmother." I think Lee did a great job of using "stepmother" in conveying the point that Japan is incapable of giving love back to Koreans given the stereotypical stepmother in all books and movies is evil. I think using this reference sparks a great understanding of the feelings that go along with being in a stepmother-like situation, and it was definitely a choice made for her target audience to understand.
ReplyDeleteI think Japan as stepmother contrasts in some ways with Kyunghee who is a kind and loving alternate mother to Noa and Mozasu, offering them what the country of Japan cannot.
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