Summary Of When The Emperor Was Divine

Japanese Internment Camps during World War II: The Study on the Impact of Marginalization

During World War II and after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were marginalized in the United States. Many were uprooted from their homes, sent to internment camps, and seen as threats by being spies. “When the Emperor was Divine” by Julie Otsuka expresses how the alienation of Japanese Americans impacted a Japanese American family through their experiences. The father is put in a prison camp and separated from the rest of the family before the daughter, son, and mother are sent to an internment camp. Otsuka highlights the impact of the girl’s marginalization in the United States using many figurative devices. Otsuka demonstrates

In other words, after returning from the camp the family demonstrates that being marginalized in the American society had brought them together because they are able to share a common experience. After Pearl Harbor but before being sent to the internment camp the girl faced racism as she was excluded from her friends when playing with a jump rope. Otsuka notes how although the jump rope belonged to the girl, “they wouldn’t let [her] jump.” (pg 70) The jump rope symbolizes racism and how all of her non- Japanese friends used it against her. Otsuka’s use of the jump rope as a symbol was a manner in which the girl was marginalized in society due to being Japanese. However, not only was the girl isolated from the dominant culture, her family was as well. For instance, her mother could not find any work because no one would hire her after returning from the internment camp. This shared experience resulted in a bond which grew as proven when they return from the camp. Otsuka exhibits the growing relations as they move back and “Without thinking [they] had chosen to sleep, together, in a room” (pg 112) Otsuka uses them sleeping together to represent augmented relationship due to sleeping symbolizing the unconscious mind. Without realizing it, they unconsciously chose to sleep together due to a stronger bond and feeling of comfort they draw from each other. Her unconscious changing to spend more time with her family contrasts to how, earlier, the girl felt all alone before and angry that she could not jump rope with her friends who were part of the dominant culture. Instead, now she bonded with others who were marginalized which Otsuka uses to display how marginalization results in the strengthening of bonds for those who have been similarly been