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Native American of Puget Town
“They evolved complex cultural, social, and economic structures, which the invasion of non-Indian settlers in the mid-1800s almost erased, but which continue today as the tribes struggle for their survival, respect, and renewal.”(historylink.org) “We’re not such paupers as to sell to Japs.”(Guterson; 119)” .“Like the Indjuns do” (Guterson; 120) The author uses monikers like indjun and Jap which were used during the book’s time period. -
European Settlers of Puget Town
“The first European settlement on the present Pacific Northwest coast of the United States was made on the shores of this bay. The bay was discovered in 1790 by the Spanish explorer Alférz Manuel Quimper.” “San Piedro was an island of five thousand damp souls, named by lost Spaniards who moored offshore in the year 1603” (5). This shows the reader the description of the Island and how depressing it is. -
Alien Land Law
“Laws of individual states that limited land ownership by noncitizens, particularly Asian immigrants.”(immigrationtounitedstates.org) “The witness makes reference to a currently defunct statute of the State of Washington which made it illegal at the time of which she speaks for an alien, a noncitizen, to hold title to real estate.”(122) This quote foreshadows Etta Hienes’ impolite question of why the Miyamotos would think they own the land since Etta Hiene has been shown to be inconsiderate. -
Military Recruitment and Propoganda during WW2
“Wide spread Japanese characterizations encouraged Americans to view all men, women, and children of Japanese descent as inherently dangerous.”(ohiohistory.org) “They wanted us to be able to kill them with no remorse, to make them less than people..” (345) The mood of the quote is sad since it talks about killing, making people less than human, and the dehumanization of Mr. Kabuo. -
Dear John Letter
“No two innocent-sounding words can crush a troop’s morale quite like “Dear John.””(wrearethemighty.com) “I don’t love you Ishmael. I can’t think of no more honest way to say it.”(353) Gutterson chooses to write Hatsue’s in a very direct way since it reflects the characteristics she obtained while being a Japanese person which gives the reader more . -
Pearl Harbor
“On the morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese bombers staged a surprise attack on U.S. military and naval forces in Hawaii.” (archives.gov) “The Japanese air force has bombed everything. It is bad for us, terribly bad. There is nothing else on the radio. Everything is Pearl Harbor.” (177) Guterson makes the tone of this passage serious to express what feelings Japanese immigrants felt after hearing the attack on Pearl Harbor. -
Japanese Internment Camp
“Enacted in reaction to Pearl Harbor and the ensuing war, the Japanese internment camps are now considered one of the most atrocious violations of American civil rights.”(history.com). “Hatsue had been taken from his life by history, because history was whimsical and immune to private yearnings.” (Guterson; 425). This could be considered dramatic irony since as a reader we know that Hatsue is insecure about loving him, but because Ishmael doesn’t know this, he may let Kabuo hang. -
Battle of Tarawa
“ While lighter Japanese defenses at Makin Island meant fewer losses for U.S. forces, firmly entrenched Japanese defenders on Betio Island turned the fight for Tarawa Atoll into a costly 76-hour battle.”(defense.gov)“He (Ishmael) sat there and watched Eric roll over in the turf . . .His legs were only partly in the water” (245). This makes the reader feel sympathetic towards Ishmael’s character and mourn about his suffering. -
Battle of Okinawa
On April 1, 1945—Easter Sunday—the Navy’s Fifth Fleet and more than 180,000 U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps troops descended on the Pacific island of Okinawa for a final push towards Japan.”(history.com)”Carl survived the sinking of the Canton in Okinawa—only to die in a gill-netting boat accident” (46). This is considered irony since the probability of dying in a battleship is more likely than in a fishing boat. -
Pearl Harbor Memorial
“To commemorate the many lives lost during the attack, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial was constructed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman.”(nationalparks.org) ““You were selected jurors in this case,” “in belief that each of you could, without fear, favor, prejudice, or sympathy, in sound judgment and clear conscience, render a justice verdic”” (421) Guterson made Judge Lew Fielding’s directions for providing a verdict strict to show how prejudice is not allowed in the courtroom.
