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Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter And Sweet Symbolism

1097 Words5 Pages

Symbolism in Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet During World War II, Asian Americans were faced with widespread discrimination and struggled with their sense of identity. People of Japanese descent were subjected to a greater degree of persecution because they were associated with the enemy. However, due to the pervasive nature of racial tensions during this time, all Asian Americans experienced some degree of discrimination. This was particularly harsh on second or third-generation Asian Americans torn between their identity as Americans and the prejudice they faced based on their cultural heritage. In his novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford uses the symbol of Henry’s buttons to reveal the turmoil faced by Asian Americans in …show more content…

Henry intervenes, “putting his ‘I am Chinese’ button on the counter next to Keiko’s two dollars” and saying that he will buy it instead (Ford 114). This act of standing up for Keiko is a significant moment because Henry actively makes his Chinese identity known, using it to his advantage for the first time. His decision to display his button is more than an act of defiance, but an acknowledgment of his cultural identity. Despite facing open discrimination, he steps up and takes a stand against the prejudice directed toward them. As the tension between the United States and Japan continues to grow, Henry’s identity as a Chinese-American becomes increasingly important. His parents check “for an ‘I am Chinese’ button every time he [walks] out the door”. [His] father’s nationalistic pride, his banner of protection, just [keeps] swelling” (Ford 121). Henry’s father is a Chinese nationalist, and his family’s identity is crucial to him as the war progresses. He views Henry’s button not only as a mark of their nationality, but also as a “banner of protection,” an added line of defense against discrimination. The importance of the button grows as Henry witnesses the

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