SUMMARY
In the book Obasan, by Joy Kogawa, Naomi Nakane, a Japenese middle-aged middle school teacher, begins to reflect on her annual visit to a coulee, or ravine, in Granton, Alberta with her uncle, Isamu. Then, while teaching class, she gets news that her uncle has died. Upon hearing this, she visits her aunt, or her Obasan, and the two go through the attic, where Naomi begins to ponder about her mother, who vanished when she was young.
The next day, she awakes to find a package from her mother's sister, Aunt Emily. She remembers her energetically fighting against racism, and what happened to the Japanese Canadians in World War II. She also remembers her childhood in Vancouver, and being molested continually by a man dubbed "Old Man Gower" at the age of four.
She continues to reflect on her childhood, remembering the immense struggle her and her family had with racism.
Naomi remembers moving with Obasan to a hut in Slocan, an empty mining town, with her brother. While there, she remembers Stephen's broken leg healing upon the arrival of Isamu, and being stranded in a boat in the middle of a lake, being rescued by a local resident, and waking up in a hospital. She also recollects her paternal grandmother dying while they were there.
Upon the surrendering of Germany, those residing in Slocan were ordered out. She remembers this because that was when her brother and father both had tuberculosis, and also when she lost track of her father, again.
Naomi then recalls going to Granton with Isamu, Obasan, and Stephen to work on a farm for and ungenerous white family. While there, Naomi remembers being treated similar to animals in a chicken coop. They lived like this until 1949, when Japanese Canadians were allowed back. It is then learned that her father died during that time, and her brother went on to become a successful pianist.
Aunt Emily and Stephen arrive at the house, along with a minister and friend, Nakayama-sensei. Nakayama-sensei then reads letters from the grandmother to her husband, which reveals information about Naomi's mother. It is revealed that they were caught in a 1945 bombing in Nagasaki. While attempting to save them both, the grandmother separates from Naomi's mother, only to find her disfigured and infested with maggots.
The next morning, Naomi drives to the coulee, claiming to feel the presence of her dead mother.
The next day, she awakes to find a package from her mother's sister, Aunt Emily. She remembers her energetically fighting against racism, and what happened to the Japanese Canadians in World War II. She also remembers her childhood in Vancouver, and being molested continually by a man dubbed "Old Man Gower" at the age of four.
She continues to reflect on her childhood, remembering the immense struggle her and her family had with racism.
Naomi remembers moving with Obasan to a hut in Slocan, an empty mining town, with her brother. While there, she remembers Stephen's broken leg healing upon the arrival of Isamu, and being stranded in a boat in the middle of a lake, being rescued by a local resident, and waking up in a hospital. She also recollects her paternal grandmother dying while they were there.
Upon the surrendering of Germany, those residing in Slocan were ordered out. She remembers this because that was when her brother and father both had tuberculosis, and also when she lost track of her father, again.
Naomi then recalls going to Granton with Isamu, Obasan, and Stephen to work on a farm for and ungenerous white family. While there, Naomi remembers being treated similar to animals in a chicken coop. They lived like this until 1949, when Japanese Canadians were allowed back. It is then learned that her father died during that time, and her brother went on to become a successful pianist.
Aunt Emily and Stephen arrive at the house, along with a minister and friend, Nakayama-sensei. Nakayama-sensei then reads letters from the grandmother to her husband, which reveals information about Naomi's mother. It is revealed that they were caught in a 1945 bombing in Nagasaki. While attempting to save them both, the grandmother separates from Naomi's mother, only to find her disfigured and infested with maggots.
The next morning, Naomi drives to the coulee, claiming to feel the presence of her dead mother.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Naomi Nakane: Naomi is a thirty-six-year-old middle school teacher. As a Japanese-Canadian growing up in the 1940s, Naomi was subject to many racial prejudices. She recalls being sexually molested at the age of four, she was in an internment, and displacement. Due to her immense struggles growing up, Naomi has built an emotional brick, which leads to the readers not having very much information on her, and in turn, she lacks significant knowledge of herself. However, with the progression of the novel, comes the progression of Naomi's self-knowledge. The reader comes to find that instead of being emotionally incompetent, Naomi is a survivor, and her story then becomes slightly lyrical and poetic.
Obasan: While she is an old, quiet, widow, Obasan also has one of the strongest personalities. Throughout the story, even with the battles that her and her family have acquired, Obasan becomes Naomi and Stephen's rock. Their mother vanished unexpectedly, their father cannot be kept track of, and their uncle seemingly comes and goes sporadically. Obasan, however, has faithfully stuck to the side of her niece and nephew, and because of that plays a huge role in Naomi's life.
Obasan: While she is an old, quiet, widow, Obasan also has one of the strongest personalities. Throughout the story, even with the battles that her and her family have acquired, Obasan becomes Naomi and Stephen's rock. Their mother vanished unexpectedly, their father cannot be kept track of, and their uncle seemingly comes and goes sporadically. Obasan, however, has faithfully stuck to the side of her niece and nephew, and because of that plays a huge role in Naomi's life.
SETTING
The setting of Obasan takes place from the 1940s-1970s in various places throughout Canada. In the beginning, it is 1972 in Cecil, Alberta, the town in which Naomi resides and teaches. Then, when the readers are taken back to the 1940s, in the midst of World War II and the racial struggles of the Japanese citizens in the North American countries, especially. In some flashbacks, the setting is of an internment, where they were forced to stay, and then forced to leave again.
CONFLICT
Man V. Man
Naomi, Stephen, Isamu, and Obasan were forced to live on a farm of a white family, who were ungenerous and unsympathetic towards them.
Man V. Self
Throughout the book, Naomi is struggling to find herself accept her background, which leads to reflection and self-knowledge for her.
Man V. Society
Being a Japanese family living in Canada in the 1940s, Naomi and her family struggled daily with racism. She points out her brother, specifically, having a major issue in school, being harassed and named "Jap."
Naomi, Stephen, Isamu, and Obasan were forced to live on a farm of a white family, who were ungenerous and unsympathetic towards them.
Man V. Self
Throughout the book, Naomi is struggling to find herself accept her background, which leads to reflection and self-knowledge for her.
Man V. Society
Being a Japanese family living in Canada in the 1940s, Naomi and her family struggled daily with racism. She points out her brother, specifically, having a major issue in school, being harassed and named "Jap."
THEMES
- Silence is Golden: At first sight, Obasan has a negative view on silence. However, the deeper it is looked into, the more evident it becomes that while showing a negative view, it also procures a positive view. Such as, because Obasan in her old age is practically deaf and says only the bare minimum, she doesn't suffer from hearing racist comments or rude remarks. Also, Naomi comes to believe that silence does not necessarily lead to a lack of knowledge, because while her mother has been silenced forever with death, she still feels that she is able to communicate with her.
- The Importance of Memory: For the most part, the whole book is based off of memories, either from Obasan's attic or from Naomi herself, everything that we know about the characters is from what was captured by their memories.
- Japanese-Canadian Culture: A huge conflict throughout the book is the combining of the Japanese and Canadian cultures. Especially during the setting of the book, the Japanese culture was extremely looked down upon by those in North America.
SYMBOLS
Obasan's house symbolizes her controlled chaos that is shown throughout the story.
WORKS CITED
"Obasan Book Trailer." YouTube. YouTube, 21 Mar. 2012. Web. 02 Apr. 2013.
"Vanishing B.C. Japanese-Canadian Cabins in the Shuswap." Vanishing B.C. Japanese-Canadian Cabins in the Shuswap. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2013.
"Vanishing B.C. Japanese-Canadian Cabins in the Shuswap." Vanishing B.C. Japanese-Canadian Cabins in the Shuswap. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2013.