Alan Brennert's Honolulu: Character Analysis

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“Legend holds that seesaws became popular with girls because on the upswing they were able to catch a glimpse of the world beyond their cloistered walls” (Brennert 17). In Alan Brennert’s novel, Honolulu, a young “picture bride” of the early 1900 's named Jin makes a deal to leave her native Korea for Hawaii in the hope to find a better life for herself. Jin’s dreams shatter as she is compelled to marry Mr. Noh, an abusive alcoholic that torments her throughout the story. The young girl soon finds out that her past life is out of reach and that she must find it in herself to rise up against the abuse and inequality to save herself. Over the course of the novel, Jin faces countless female right’s issues such as abuse, the wage gap, traditional