i
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree ofSarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
CHRISTA DEWI AMETHA SEMBIRING
Student Number: 044214090
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
ii
ON CEDARS
By
Christa Dewi Ametha Sembiring
Student Number: 044214090
Approved by
Maria Ananta Tri S., S.S., M.Ed. August 13, 2010
Advisor
Dewi Widyastuti, S.pd., M.Hum. August 13, 2010
iii
ON CEDARS
By
Christa Dewi Ametha Sembiring
Student Number: 044214090
Defended before the Board on Examiners On August 24, 2010
And Declared Acceptable
BOARD OF EXAMINERS
Name Signature
Chairman : Dr. F. R. B. Alip, M. Pd., M.A. ______________ Secretary : Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka, M.Hum. ______________
Member : Tatang Iskarna, S.S., M.Hum. ______________
Member : Maria Ananta Tri S., S.S., M.Ed. ______________ Member : Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M.Hum. ______________
Yogyakarta, August 31, 2010 Faculty of Letters Sanata Dharma University
Dean
iv as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, August 31, 2010 The writer
v
Nama : Christa Dewi Ametha Sembiring Nomor Mahasiswa : 044214090
Demi perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
THE REACTION OFNISEITOWARD WORLD WAR II AS REPRESENTED BY HATSUE MIYAMOTO AND KABUO MIYAMOTO SEEN IN DAVID
GUTERSON’SSNOW FALLING ON CEDARS
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 31 Agustus 2010
Yang menyatakan
vi
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
(Langston Hughes)
But life is long. And it is the long run that balances
the short flare of interest and passion.
(Sylvia Plath)
Change will not come if we wait for some other person or
some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We
are the change that we seek.
vii
viii
encouragement in realizing one of the happiness in my life which is this undergraduate thesis. I do believe that without Him nothing would be realized.
I am deeply indebted to my advisor Maria Ananta Tri S., S.S., M.Ed.,
whose help and motivating suggestion helped me in writing this undergraduate thesis. I would also thank to Dewi Widyastuti, S.pd., M.Hum., as my co-advisor who has carefully correcting my thesis and has given me suggestions in my thesis. I thank to
Tatang Iskarna, S.S., M.Hum.,for brought me into the thesis defense experience. I also express my gratitude to all the lecturers and staffs of the Department of English Letters for assisting me in going through the years of my study at Sanata Dharma University.
ix
University library in gathering all data I need for my thesis. I thank all of my friends in English Letters Department especially bang Icon “Panda”, Jojo, Martha, Peme, Wawan, Rony “mbahe” and Edward for the last crazy classes. Also to my friends from “The Engagement”, thank you for the adventure we have spent together. To
Global Sport buddies, thank you for the time we shared. Lastly, I thank everyone who cannot be mentioned one by one.
x
A. Background of the Study... 1
B. Problem Formulation... 4
C. Objectives of the Study... 4
D. Definition of Terms... 5
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW...7
A. Review of Related Studies...7
B. Review of Related Theories... 9
1. Theory of Character and Characterization... 10
2. Theory of Setting………... 11
3. Theory on the Relation between Literature and Society...12
4. Theory on Racial Prejudice... 13
C. Review onNiseion WW II... 15
D. Theoretical Review…... 21
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY... 23
A. Object of the Study ... 23
B. Approach of the Study ... 24
C. Method of the Study ... 25
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS... 27
A. The Characteristics of Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto ... 28
1. The Characteristics of Hatsue Miyamoto ... 28
a. Assertive... 28
b. Persistent... 30
c. Realistic... 35
d. Patient... 37
2. The Characteristics of Kabuo Miyamoto... 39
xi
Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto ... 53
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION... 64
xii
Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University.
Snow Falling on Cedars is a historical novel which major topic is racial prejudice goes to Japanese. The setting of the novel that is in 1940s to 1950s in America, gives clear explanation about Japanese experience in America before, during and after World War II. The setting of the novel also gives the portrayal of the society that is shaped through the time when they live. In this study the writer focuses on Nisei’s reaction toward World War II represented by two major Nisei characters: Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto.
In this study there are three problems that the writer formulated. First is about the characterization of Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto. The second is the influences of World War II towardNiseirepresented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto. The third is the reaction of Nisei represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto
In doing this research, the writer uses library research method to obtain some data and books that were provided in the library. In conducting the analysis, the writer uses sociocultural-historical approach because this study discusses the social condition and historical aspects that invite reaction from Niseias the members of the society.
Based on the analysis, the results of this study are as follow. First,the characteristics of Hatsue and Kabuo. Hatsue describes as assertive, persistent, realistic and patient. Meanwhile, Kabuo describes as responsible, pessimistic and helpful. The World War II gives some influences to Nisei which are they racially prejudiced sharply then before the war by the hakujin,Nisei’s war veterans get bad psychological effect, and they loose their land. These influences next will lead to
xiii
in David Guterson’s Snow Falling on Cedars.Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Snow Falling on Cedars adalah novel mengenai sejarah yang topik utamanya adalah prasangka rasial yg ditujukan kepada orang Jepang di Amerika. Pelataran dalam novel yakni pada tahun 1940an sampai 1950an di Amerika, memberikan penjelasan yg jelas mengenai pengalaman orang Jepang di Amerika sebelum, semasa dan setelah Perang Dunia II. Pelataran dalam novel juga memberikan gambaran masyarakat yang dibentuk oleh waktu semasa mereka hidup. Dalam studi ini, penulis fokus pada reaksi Nisei terhadap perang yang direpresentasikan oleh dua karakter
Niseiutama; Hatsue Miyamoto dan Kabuo Miyamoto.
Dalam studi ini terdapat tiga permasalahan yang diformulasikan penulis. Pertama mengenai penokohan Hatsue Miyamoto dan Kabuo Miyamoto. Kedua adalah mengenai dampak Perang Dunia II terhadap Nisei direpresentasikan oleh Hatsue Miyamoto dan Kabuo Miyamoto. Ketiga adalah reaksi Nisei direpresentasikan oleh Hatsue Miyamoto dan Kabuo Miyamoto.
Dalam melakukan analisa ini, penulis menggunakan studi pustaka yang berguna untuk memperoleh data serta buku acuan yang terdapat di perpustakaan. Dalam melakukan analisa, penulis menggunakan pendekatan sosiokultural-historikal karena studi ini membahas keadaan sosial dan aspek bersejarah yang mengundang reaksiNiseisebagai bagian dari masyarakat.
Berdasarkan analisa, hasil temuan studi ini adalah sebagai berikut. Pertama, karakterisasi Hatsue dan Kabuo. Hatsue digambarkan sebagai tokoh yang tegas, berkeinginan keras, realistis dan sabar. Kabuo digambarkan sebagai tokoh yang bertanggung jawab, pesimistis dan suka membantu. Perang Dunia II memberikan beberapa dampak terhadap Nisei yaitu mereka memperoleh prasangka rasial yang lebih tajam daripada sebelum perang dari para hakujin, veteran perang Nisei
mendapatkan efek psikologis buruk dan mereka kehilangan lahan. Dampak-dampak tersebut kemudian akan membawa kepada reaksi Nisei terhadap Perang Dunia II direpresentasikan oleh Hatsue dan Kabuo. Hatsue Miyamoto merepresentasikanNisei
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Literary works are sometimes reflecting the condition of the society where the author lives. It can be social, economical or religious condition. Rohrberger and Woods inReading and Writing about Literaturestated
They divine civilization as the attitude and actions as its subject matter. They feel, therefore, that it is necessary that the critics investigate the social milieu in which it necessarily reflects. No one, of course, can deny their assertion: first, that literature is not created in a vacuum, and second, that literature embodies ideas significant to the culture that produced it (1971: 1).
These conditions may influence an author to write a literary work because through literary work an author can express his or her thoughts about what happen around him or her. Often, a literary work is used as a tool or device by an author to criticize the conditions that become his or her concern. We cannot deny that literary work records as values, thoughts, problems and conflicts in society because the author of a literary works is the member of the society it self. In his or her work, he or she conveys the daily life of their experience certain social, political, economical, cultural issues or historical movement.
Literature is the principle element of cultures. It contains the record of the peoples values, their thoughts, their problems, and their conflicts. Whether transmitted through the spoken or the written word. Literature stands a tool to pass from one generation to the next. Literature then functions as presentation of the situation and the thought happening in a certain setting and place (Little, 1981: 1).
Snow Falling on Cedars won the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1995. This illustrious award has been given to many of America's most admired writers. Guterson thoroughly researched the history of the Japanese internment camps he writes about in the novel, speaking with many Japanese people from the towns near where he lives. In Snow Falling on Cedars, Guterson wanted to write about commonplace tragedy, about the way accidents can affect people's lives tremendously. He sees this as part of his writing and his way of life. He enjoys the vast, unyielding power of nature much more than the bustle of city life and civilization. (http://www.bookrags.com/notes/sno/BIO.htm).
Snow Falling on Cedars is one the best 20th century American fiction novel, which won PEN/Faulkner Award in 1995, and the writer named to
Granta's list as the Best Young American Novelists. Guterson got the story by interacting with the Japanese American, explore and investigate about what really happened to them and about how the native American threat them during the World War II. Moreover, the setting of time in
Snow Falling on Cedars was a real event happened, but Guterson had bunched up the characters, place and plot to draw more public attention. The story tells about racism goes to the Japanese American and about racism that Japanese American however will never be at the same place in the society with the whites; in right, profession, and place to live. The whites think that Japanese are disturbing to their country because of their culture and they will not become good citizen because of their culture. Even if they live in the same environment with the whites they have no willing to blend. Kitano in Japanese Americans, the Evolution of a Subculturequotes the writing of V. McClatchy the publisher of the Sacramento Bee
may not assimilate and make good citizens because their government claims all Japanese, no matter where born, as its citizen. 3. The Japanese will not assimilate and make good citizens. In the mass, where opportunity offered, and even when born here, they have shown no disposition to do so… there can be no effective assimilation of the Japanese without intermarriage. It is perhaps not desirable for the good of either race that there should be intermarriage between whites and the Japanese. They cannot be transmuted into good American citizen (Kitano, 1976: 1888). The writer interests to study the topic because the writer is interested in the complexity of life and the significant role of the Japanese characters. Character is one of the important elements of the story. According to E.M. Forster in his book
Aspects of the Novel, an actor in a story is, or intended to be, human being. He says that since the novelist himself is a human being, there must be an affinity between him and his subject matter. More, he explains that a novelist is a creator who makes up a number of characters then gives them names and sexes, and assign them to be similar to human, and causes them to speak and perhaps to behave consistently (Forster, 1974:30-32).
Forster’s statement implies that the characters in fiction are the same as those in real life. In Snow Falling on Cedars, the Japanese characters that the writer will focus on, not only given name and appearance but the characters also has different behavior, attitude, appearance and other things that differentiate them to another character and give them a special characterization.
B. Problem Formulation
1. How are Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto presented in the novel?
2. What are the influences of World War II toward Nisei represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto?
3. What are the reaction ofNisei toward World War II as represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto?
C. Objectives of the Study
In this study, first, the writer is going to analyze how Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto characterized as the representation of Nisei. The analysis about character and characteristic can be seen in the novel from the beginning up to the end of the story.
Second, the writer is going to investigate the influences of World War II toward Nisei represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto. The description of the influence is analyzed from the condition ofNiseibefore, during and after World War II.
D. Definition on Terms
There are some terms that the writer needs to define in order to avoid confusion and differences in understanding certain terms in this thesis.
1. Reaction
According toThe New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language, reaction is a reverse or return action; tendency toward a former or reversed state of things; especially a trend toward an earlier social, political or economic policy or condition (1996: 1049). InDictionary of Sociology and Relate Sciences, reaction is a typical, standardized, essentially spontaneous or automatic response to a (usually external) stimulus (Fairchild, 1975: 250).
2. Influence
3. Nisei
According toFace to Face Glossary for Japanese American term, NISEI: Literally, “second generation.” American-born children of Japanese immigrants. Two-thirds of Japanese Americans imprisoned in the U.S. during World War II were Nisei (http://www.itvs.org/facetoface/glossary/). In Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of English Language Unabridged Volume II, Nisei is [Japanese literary second generation from ni second + sei generation]: a son or daughter of issei parents who is born and educated in America and especially in the U.S. (1976: 1530) According to The New Oxford American Dictionary, Nisei
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Snow Falling on Cedarsis a very interesting novel. It gives understanding to readers about the condition of Japanese American during the World War II and it also able to make readers feel what they feel on that time. David Guterson collects his descriptive words very clearly and in detail in the novel. He explicates all the moment in the story completely about condition and situation of the Japanese American related with law, rights, racism, and their relation one to another and with the whites.
In the afterward of the novel, Guterson gives explanation about his view and respect to the people that experienced the real event that inspired him in creating his fictional characters and story in the novel. On an interview with Ellen Kanner he said
"My book is traditional. A lot of writers are concerned with life in the '90s. I'm not. The conventional story endures because it does. I'm interested in themes that endure from generation to generation. Fiction is socially meaningful. Every culture is sustained by certain central myths. At its heart, fiction's role is to see these roles and myths are sustained. My work comes from inner disturbances, from seeing injustices and accidents and how they affect people's lives in a tragic way. It must succeed in its own terms. It has to be just as powerful, though. It must have an impact on people"
(http://www.bookpage.com/9601bp/fiction/snowfallingoncedars.html). On his explanation about Hatsue Miyamoto, one of the fictional characters in his novel, he said that Hatsue explained her emotional reserve . . . Didn't mean her heart was shallow. Her silence, she said, would express something if she
would learn to listen to it. What some people interpret as brooding melancholy is serenity. I grew up in Seattle, but I always knew I wanted to leave. The greenness of the world, the play of light and living things, stretching endlessly and regenerating season after season-to have that in daily life is so much more
satisfying than buildings and people.
(http://www.bookpage.com/9601bp/fiction/snowfallingoncedars.html).
Ellen Kanner on her opinion says that Guterson's stories possess an emotional edge, his novel has a certain maturity, sweeping the reader away with its lush physical description. Guterson's gift of evoking a sense of place comes from his love of it. The islands off Puget Sound bear an almost mythic weight for him.Snow Falling on Cedarsgoes beyond ethnicity. Guterson explores humanity, penetrating the core of the human heart. Guterson agrees one can make almost anything political, including his book, but he hopes it transcends both politics and history (http://www.bookpage.com/9601bp/fiction/snowfallingoncedars.html).
There is also another opinion that explain about the characters and their relation in the story in the novel
Snow Falling on Cedarsby David Guterson is set in 1945 and is a story of love, tragedy, and deception. Kabuo Miyamoto, a citizen of San Piedro Island, is on trial for the murder of Carl Heine, Jr. This novel essentially deals with San Piedro Island's prejudice against Japanese Americans. The book's conclusion is doubtful until the very end, provoking the uncertainty which makes the reader analyze the story long after the book has been set aside. Guterson brilliantly weaves the wound on the victim's head and Miyamoto's.Snow Falling on Cedars
is a mysterious, unpredictable novel which "keeps you on the edge of your seat." The story's creative turn of events and intervention of past and present distinguishes it from most others. Guterson challenges not only the mind but also
the heart in this work of art
(http://www.brothersjudd.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/reviews.detail/book_id/354/S now%20Falling.htm).
Furthermore, different with the studies on Snow Falling on Cedars
submitted above, in this undergraduate thesis the writer will try to relate two main
Niseicharacters with the social condition in the novel to find out the influences of World War II toward Nisei represented by these two characters then to find out the reaction ofNiseitoward Word War II as represented by these two characters.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Student(1972: 161-173) defines that there are some ways in finding the character and characteristic of a person in a literary work:
a. Personal description: the author can give a person’s appearance and clothes. b. Character as seen by another: instead of describing the character directly the
author can describe him through the eyes and opinions of another. The reader gets, as it were, a reflected image.
c. Speech: the author can give us an insight into the character of one person in the book through what the person say. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion, he is giving us some clues to his character.
d. Past life: by letting the reader learn something about a person’s past life the author can gives us a clue to event that have helped to shape a person’s character.
e. Conversation of other: the author also can give us clues to a person’s character through a conversation of other people and the things they say about him. f. Reactions: the author also can give us clues to a person’s character by letting
us know how that person reacts to various situations and events.
g. Direct comment: an author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly
secret listening device plugged into the inmost thoughts of a person in the novel.
i. Mannerism: The author can describe a person’s mannerisms, habits or idiosyncrasies, which may also tell us something about.
Stanton in his book An Introduction to Fiction says that there are some indications to understand the character. First is from the character’s name fits the character. Second is the author description and comments on the character clearly. Third is from the other characters’ opinion and attitude toward the character meant. Forth, as the most important indication is the character’s own dialogue and behavior because every speech, every action is a manifestation of the character (Stanton, 1965: 18). It means that the writer has the opportunity to judge the character of a literary work. Moreover, the writer may have his or her impression toward the characters.
2. Theory of Setting
It is important to understand the setting before analyzing a novel. Abrams inA Glossary of Literary Termdefines setting as
The general local and the historical time in which its action occurs, the setting of an episode or scene within a work is the physical location in which it takes place… In a limitation sense, setting refers to “the general place and historical sense”, it is when and where the action occurs. In a broader sense, setting refers to “the social circumstances in which its action occurs (Abram, 1985: 175).
Holman and Harmon (1986: 468), report that there are some elements of which the setting is composed. They are:
a. The actual geographic location; its topography, scenery and such physical arrangements as the location of the windows and doors in a room.
b. The occupation and daily manner of living of the character.
c. The time or periods in which the action takes place, for example: epoch in history or scene of the play.
d. The general environment of the characters, for example, religious, mental, moral and emotional condition through which the people in narrative move.
According to Richard Gill in Mastering English Literature, setting can be an important aspect of the novel since most novelist have learnt about the setting to give significant into their novels (1995:148). For the writer, this is the reason why readers should learn much about setting of the novel in order to know and understand the significance.
3. Theory on Relation between Literature and Society
Literature and society are in their nature two interesting aspects that intertwine each other. Yet to understand their relation, Rene Wellek and Austin Warren inTheory of Literature:
The object of the literature, the world, and the people are the imitation of social reality. Therefore, literature with its medium devices and objects is the representation of life itself. Literature can also be viewed as the essence, the abridgment, and summary at all history (1956: 94).
story. It includes the custom, tradition, belief, ideology, the way of thinking, and behaving, and perhaps the social status of the character (1980: 33–35).
Elizabeth Langland inSociety in the Novel explains that the society in the novel is not always resemble or same with society in the real life. Society in the novel cannot always be found in the real world, but there is a possibility that we can find it in the real world, although it is not exactly the same (1984: 5). Langland also explained that everything which is seen such as norms, conventions, codes, background, places, peoples, institutions are included in society. But its particular manifestations in the novel will be determined by its role within the work (1984: 6-7). It can be concluded that society, the story and events, and the setting in the novel are the representation of the real world.
4. Theory on Racial Prejudice
Everyone must have their own race as it is inherited by their ancestor, but sometimes this racial variation becomes a problem among society. One of social problem that can cause by race is prejudice. Prejudice is a negative attitude toward an entire category of people, often an ethnic or racial minority (Schaefer, 1986: 228). The main cause of being racially prejudice is the difference of skin colors. In a society where there is racism the superior group will racially prejudice the subordinate who is usually immigrant. Richard T. Schaefer in Sociology,
points out
elements that experienced the subordinate racial minority (Schaefer, 1986: 228-230).
In America there are so many races gather together. Even they live in the same town, they usually live in groups according to their race. On the other words, they live in groups according to their physical look. Without looking at the person indeed prejudice has loose what only eyes see that is the physical appearance; different skin, eyes and hair color. It shows that each race in America separate themselves from other races to avoid uncomfortable life cause by racial prejudice. Parrilo on his note title “Cause of Prejudice” says that
Prejudice: an attitudinal “system of negative beliefs, feelings, and action-orientations regarding a certain group or groups of people.” This text focuses on what prejudice is and the different forms of it. Prejudicial attitudes exist among members of both dominate and minority groups; for instance, the most common would be whites and blacks (http://kaylaelyse.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/reading-post-6-causes-of-prejudice/).
In this study, racial prejudice is experienced by Nisei who is the second Japanese generation in America. Like other non Caucasian in America, such as Blacks, they are racially prejudiced because of their different physical appearance. Racial prejudice has been characterized as “the myth that threatens America” and has been diagnosed as “the disease of hate.” Almost every ill that can beset a nation has been ascribed to its baneful influence, ranging from debilitating economic waste to the ultimate danger of social chaos. In such definition, therefore, the word “racial” is used in its popular and not anthropological and scientific meaning. These groups and others are minority groups in the United States in the sense that they differ from the dominant group with respect to race, culture, or nationality origin (Krech and Crutchfield, 1948; 443-444).
problems confronting contemporary societies. These events make it possible for color and race to become pivotal link in the relations between European, American and the people of Africa, Asia, Latin America and Australia (1996: 715). This quotation shows that how race may cause problem in shaping social life among people with different races who live together in the same environment. In this study the case is American discriminate Japanese by their physical appearance.
C. Review onNiseion World War II
The Nisei were the second generation. Within weeks, all persons of Japanese ancestry--whether citizens or enemy aliens were ordered to assembly centers near their homes. Soon they were sent to permanent relocation centers outside the restricted military zones. Sites included Tule Lake…Idaho; Manzanar…Arkansas (http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/japanese-relocation/)
The Nisei were Americans who grew up in American culture, but they had the face of the enemy. The problem for the Nisei is that, even if they had wanted to, the Nisei could not assimilate, they were already immersed in, and had internalized (http://evrything2.com/title/Nisei+Dilemma).
Nisei is the second generation of Japanese in America after their Issei
their parents hardly speak English, while in school they speak English. These
Niseiare American citizen legally but because they have the physical appearance of their Japanese ancestor, it is hard for them to gain society acceptance as American.
Kitano in his book Japanese Americans, The Evolution of a Subculture
states about the General background of the Japanese group in America. He informed that the children of the Issei (the first generation), or Nisei (the second generation)…influenced by their parents’ attitudes toward education, availed themselves fully of American educational facilities, and became much more “American” than their parents. But opportunities for this group were still greatly restricted by prejudice and hostility from the majority, especially up through World War II. At the outbreak of World War II, all Japanese Americans on the West Coast were evacuated from their homes and business and interned in relocation centers for the duration of the war. This evacuation had incalculable consequences, such as the destruction of the economic position of the group, the disruption of families, and loss of homes and business (1976; 8-9).
Because they were born, developed and educated in America, Nisei get input from both American and Japanese culture. It makes them think that they are both American and Japanese culturally. At home or at the Japanese neighborhood, their parents teach them Japanese culture and at school when they blend with the whites, they learn American culture from their friends or teachers.
bigger including to theNisei. This racial prejudice becomes the disease of hate in America after World War II. The whites automatically hate Japanese in every ways. The ruin that caused by Japan makes the whites look at all Japanese in America are the same. The whites regard them as bad person.
Leonard Dinnerstein and David M. Reimers in their book Ethnic Americans: A History of Immigration and Assimilation explains that Japanese immigrants, who by law could never become citizen themselves, demanded, nevertheless, that their children excel in the American school (1982: 47). It means that the Issei wants their children to excel in American school that is to gain education to be better than themselves.
Japanese Americans to consider carefully their nationality and their ethnic identity. They now had choices to make choices that previously had been delayed or repressed. Were they Japanese or American? The decision was difficult for many Essei and Kibei, and perhaps an easier choice for Nisei, who, as a group, remained completely loyal to the United States (Kitano, 1976: 75-77).
After the war, Japanese families experience some losses. Loosing their land and property are the example. Some of them claim for the loss but only some are successfully get their land or property back. It is hard for Japanese to live in America after the World War II but many Japanese still stay in America because they believe that they will get luck in America.
In The Japanese Mind: The Goliath Explained states that most Japanese still regard marriage not as the culmination of a romance but as a commitment that is primarily social and practical to significance (Christopher, 1983: 83). A statement of a Nisei, Yuri Kochiyama, gives a proof about psychological damage of war veteran. She says inAsian Americans“I think the psychological damage of the wartime period, and of racism itself, has left its mark” (Lee, 1991: 17).
An experience of Nisei, Henri Moritsugu, who shares his story in Asian Americans says “I think the adults in the family were definitely affected by this (the war). My family deemphasized being Japanese after that” (Lee, 1991: 101). Henry’s family is one of Japanese families who experience relocation camp. His family choice to deemphasize their Japanese culture is one of the choices Japanese families make.
Another example of Nisei choice that is related to the analysis is the confession of Amy Yamamoto, a Nisei who lives in Hawaii until after World War II shares her experience to an interview said that she has glad to marry a boy of her own kind who says that [Going to Honolulu during the war] was a good experience for me, you know, because otherwise, I would have ended up being in plantation and marry a plantation boy and (chuckles) still there. And fortunately, I think I'm married to one of the best guys (http://nise.hawaii.edu/io 1151553958484.html). SomeNisei, after the war, choose to live their life as true Japanese with all of its cultural roles. The war makes them find to which culture they belong.
While doubts of their loyalty swept the nation, these young "Nisei," or second generation Japanese Americans, fought to prove they were 100% American by entering the U.S. Army (http://www.niseistamp.org/)
against Japanese and other Asian immigrants, but it did not end racism. The attack on Pearl Harbor rekindled the old fears and prejudices and prompted new outbreaks of anti-Japanese hysteria. The army rounded up approximately 110,000 West Coast Japanese, most of who were native born American citizens, and placed them in ten camps named relocation centers (1982: 67).
Japanese who had lived in America for thirty years were accused of spying for their native land. The day after Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Treasury Department ordered all Japanese-owned businesses closed and all issei bank accounts frozen. The U.S. government had already compiled lists of Japanese whose loyalties might be suspect. <http://www.randomhouse.com/vintage/read/snow/>.
When the war is on, all Japanese are suspect. Their homes are to be investigated, their banks are close, and they have to move to the relocation center. The American government strictly watches them. Some of the males are put in jail, some becomes the volunteer to the war, but all female and children have to live in the relocation center.
America society to distance and separate Asian Americans as foreigners (Danico and Greenwood, 2004: 41).
Another thought presented by Robert C. Christopher in his book The Japanese Mind: the Goliath Explained that to some degree, this superiority complex clearly reflects plain, old-fashioned racism. The historic tendency of Caucasian to dismiss non-Caucasian as “lesser breeds without law” was powerfully reinforced in the United States by the incessant drumfire of anti-Japanese propaganda to which American were exposed during World War II; and though they are dwindling in number, there are still people in this country who find it inconceivable that a nation of “little yellow men” could ever outstrip Americans (1983: 24).
All Japanese in America whether they are Nisei orIssei treat the same by the whites. Their physical look is the only reason that they become racially prejudice by the whites. Their appearance is the same with the people who attacked Pearl Harbor and caused many American die in the war. Even some of youngNisei volunteered to the war, it does not mean much for the whites. They still racially prejudice them as long as they have the look of Japanese. Ironically, theNiseiwho is American citizen by law also cannot save themselves from being racially prejudice.
D. Theoretical Review
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study is a novel entitlesSnow Falling on Cedarswritten by David Guterson. Guterson spent ten years in his life to finish the novel. In 1995 Snow Falling on Cedars won Barnes and Noble Discover New Writers selection, Pen/Faulkner Award and Guterson was named to Granta's list of Best
Young American Novelists
(http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&ISBN=97806 79764021&ourl=Snow%2DFalling%2Don%2DCedars%2FDavid%2DGuterson# TABS)
The book is first published by A Division of Random House, Inc, New York in 1995. It consists of 450 pages and divides into 32 chapters. Even though the story is based on the actual historical facts, Guterson created his own characters and story based on the real social condition before, during and after World War II.
The story starts with the murder case of a German fisherman names Carl Heine and Kabuo Miyamoto, a Japanese American, as the accused man. Kabuo’s wife, the major protagonist character names Hatsue Miyamoto has big role in the novel. Most conflicts in the novel are about racism toward Japanese American in right as citizen especially during the World War II.
The setting is on a fictional place names San Piedro, in America and the setting of time is before, during and after World War II. In the novel describes how thehakujin treats Japanese America in the shadow of racial prejudice. They differs the Japanese America with them and put their distrust when the native put them in the relocation camp when the war begins. Moreover, Japanese America should not be in the same place with the Native America and should not befriend with them.
B. Approach of the Study
In analyzing the novel, the writer will apply sociocultural-historical approach. It is chosen because the major concern of this analysis is the society. Critics whose major interest is the sociocultural-historical approach insist that the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that produced it. They state like nature, literature is not created in vacuum and that literature embodies ideas significant to the culture that produce it. Moreover, the writer is going to find out the relation between the condition of the setting with the character. According to Rohberger and Woods in Reading and Writing about Literature, sociocultural-historical approach puts the work of literature as the product of civilization and it is necessary that the critics investigates the social milieu in which a work was created and which it necessarily reflects (1971: 9).
condition on World War II in order to have a complete understanding in analyzing the reaction ofNisei toward World War II represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto.
C. Method of the Study
In accomplishing the analysis, the writer uses library research method. All the sources, which support this writing are taken from books and websites that might be helpful in analyzing the novel. The data are gathered from those sources on literature, criticism and dictionaries.
The writer applies some necessary research procedures, which are divided into some steps. The first step is to read the primary source that is the novel itself. While understanding the novel, the writer tries to grasp the important point by find out the condition of the characters and its relation to the setting in the novel, and then formulate problems into questions.
The second step is to find some data related to the problems by doing library research, in which the findings are divided into three groups of data. The first group consists of some criticism of the work itself. The second group is theories that supports the analysis which are theory on character and characterization, the theories on setting, the theory on the relation between literature and society and the theory on racial prejudice. The third is the history of
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
This chapter discusses two main Japanese characters in the novel, the influence of World War II towardNiseirepresented by characters and the reaction of Nisei toward World War II represented by the characters. Actually, there are some Japanese characters in the novel but the writer only discusses these two characters who areNiseiwho are Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto.
The discussion will be divided into three subchapters based on the problem formulation of this study. The first subchapter traces out the characteristics of Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto. The second part will discuss the influence of World War II towardNiseirepresented by these two characters. The last part will discuss the reaction of Nisei toward World War II represented by both characters.
According to Abram, characters are the person presented in the dramatic and narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and disposition qualities that are expressed in what they say- dialogue and what they do- the action (1981:20). The writer tries to find the quality in Hatsue and Kabuo characteristics by their depiction in the novel. The writer obtains Hatsue and Kabuo Miyamoto because they give clear explanation on the influence of World War II toNiseiin the novel.
In Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Students, Murphy defines there are some ways on making the character understandable. In analyzing Hatsue and Kabou’s
characteristics some of Murphy’s theory in making a character understandable are applied which are by personal description, speech, by past life, by the conversation of others, by reactions, by direct comment, by thought, and by mannerism. On the first subchapter, the writer tries to find Hatsue and Kabuo’s characteristic which will be lead to the reaction of Nisei toward World War II represented by both of them.
A. The Characteristics of Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto 1. The Characteristics of Hatsue Miyamoto
a. Assertive
At Manzanar, Hatsue, her mother and her sisters moves to the relocation camp and separates from her father. On Manzanar, her mother everyday preaches to her and her sisters to think about this matter seriously. She says “There is no choice in the matter. We will all have to endure.” (Guterson, 1995: 200). Her mother’s words become thing that she seriously thinks at Manzanar. It leads her to think more who she really is in her environment and what she should do in her environment for herself and for her family.
She was eighteen now and her mother’s story held more weight than it went when she’d heard it earlier. She leaned forward and listened carefully (Guterson, 1995: 199-200).
Hatsue used to be a rebellious person who resists her mother on her opinion about thehakujin. Before, which was on the early days of the war when her mother asked her to write a good bye letter to Ishmael she refused it, she said “You’re exaggerating, mother—you know you are. They’re not so different from us, you know. Some hate, others don’t. It isn’t all of them.” (1995: 200). Her rebellious personality, while the war is on, is now changes. Finally she finds that the best thing to do is to end her secret romance with Ishmael. In her heart, Ishmael is the only man she loves and it is painful to write good bye to him. By her mannerism, that is writing the good bye letter to Ishmael, shows that Hatsue now is an assertive person who chooses to beat her own feeling and leaves Ishmael.
And she thought she understood what she had long sought to understand, that she concealed her love for Ishmael Chambers not because she was Japanese in her heart but because she could not in truth profess to the world that what she felt for him was love at all (1995: 206).
She was glad to have married him. He, too, came from strawberry farmers. And she knew that Kabuo wanted what she wanted. That was all, there was nothing more than that, they wanted their farm and the closeness at hand of the people they loved. She knew in her bones why she wanted it. She understood the happiness of a place and there were fields she could enter into with a man she loved purposefully (1995: 89-90).
Her thought which is to maintain her Japanese tradition and leave her previous think that she is American proves that Hatsue becomes an assertive person about choices she makes. She is agreeing to marry Kabuo not because she is in love with him but more because he is Japanese. It proves that Hatsue now has found how she has to continue her life by choosing a man with the same race, the same dream and the same background.
b. Persistent
One of the issues of prejudice in the novel is on the post war. Kabuo Miyamoto, Hatsue’s husband who is now a war veteran, accused as a murderer of Carl Heine, a gill-netting who is also a friend of her husband. In dealing with this matter, Hatsue persistently tries hard to defend her husband and to prove that her husband has no willingness to kill anyone. Hatsue knows that they believe Kabuo is a murder only because he is Japanese and Carl Heine is ahakujin. She tells that to Ishmael because Ishmael is one of the important persons in San Piedro. His newspaper might effect people in San Piedro to think over the case.
Hatsue’s reaction in dealing with this matter and her reaction in pursuing Ishmael show that she is a persistent. She won’t give up defending her husband.
On her husband trial, when the time is for Hatsue to tell her testimony, Nels, the defendant attorney of Kabuo which is a hakujin, asks her the same questions that repeats more than two times. It explains that Nels even his job is to defend Kabuo, does not trust Hatsue by asking her testimony for three times. Further more because Hatsue and her husband are Japanese, the object of San Piedro islanders prejudice. She knows the situation is not on their side so she answers Nels questions with the same answer. This is one of her way in defending her husband.
“I’m going to ask you to think back,” said Nels, “about event that occurred three months ago. Would it be fair to say that time your husband became interested in purchasing land that was for sale at Island Center?”
“Oh, yes,” answered Hatsue. “He was very interested in buying land out there. It has been his family’s land, and then, during the war, they lost everything, their land was taken from them” (1995; 363-364).
The attorney of the Heines, Alvin Hooks, also shows racism to Hatsue. Alvin is a figure in the story that racially prejudices Japanese arrogantly. It clearly shows that he doubt all of Hatsue’s testimony.
“Mrs. Miyamoto,” he sighed. “Was I fair just now in describing your husband’s state of mind as ‘terribly exited’ on the morning of the sixteenth—the morning Carl Heine was murdered? Have I by any change misinterpreted your testimony? Did he come home on that morning ‘terribly exited’?”
“He was terribly excited, certainly.”
“He didn’t seem himself? His state of mind was—agitated?
“Excited,” answered Hatsue. “Not agitated. He was excited about getting his family’s land back” (1995; 369 – 370).
The quotation above shows that Alvin starts his question to Hatsue with accusation. Before hearing anything from Hatsue, he already makes his own conclusion which is about Kabuo state of mind. He shows no interest in hearing Hatsue’s testimony. But she still wants people in San Piedro knows the truth. She tries to tell the truth. Even she knows that Alvin is hard to trust her because they are Japanese, Hatsue tells Alvin the truth more than once,
the trial hard to believe her and her family because they are Japanese, which is the reason why she pushes Ishmael to put it in the front page. She often insists Ishmael to put her husband case in the front page of his newspaper and never stop insists Ishmael until he does so. Hatsue who is persistently asks Ishmael to put Kabuo’s trial in the front page of Ishmael’s newspaper finally gives good effect to the case.
“My husband’s trial is unfair,” said Hatsue. “You ought to put that in your father’s newspaper, Ishmael, right across the front page. You should use his newspaper to tell the truth, you know. Let the whole island see it isn’t right. It’s just because we’re Japanese.” (1995: 426-427).
Ishmael, the only person who knew the truth from notes he found, finally makes up his mind and goes to the Imada’s house to show the evidence. Hatsue recalls her memory about the coffee cup the sheriff found on the floor of Carl’s cabin. She believes that there must be any relation between the coffee cup that is never taken and Carl’s death. She persistently tries to tell people in San Piedro that her memory might help her release her husband.
It meant, she said, that Carl’s gill-netting boat had been rocked by a freighter in the middle of the night—somethinghad knocked that coffee cup down, and since Carl had never picked it up it had to be that the very same something had knocked him down as well. It had to be, she repeated. Her husband’s case should be thrown out (1995; 445 – 446).
been taking long time but Hatsue has not bore nor gives up in defending her husband.
“I thought bout it all night,” said Hatsue. “Do you remember when my husband testified? He said that Carl had a lantern up. That he’d put it there because his light weren’t working. He’d lashed a hand-held kerosene lantern high up on his mast.” That his lights were out and he’d lashed up a lantern as a sort of emergency measure? Don’t you thing that would prove something?” (1995: 48).
She asks Ishmael to take her to Carl’s boat to prove what her husband has testified to strengthen evidence. That morning is the morning before the last court on her husband’s trial. Hatsue and Ishmael go to Carl’s boat and couple hours later they arrives at the courthouse. Hatsue persistent personality emerges on the courthouse. She brings the notes that Ishmael found and put it in the center of her table. She says “Mr. Chamber discovered these. He brought these to me last night.” She bravely shows to the court that she and Ishmael found the evidence to prove that her husband is innocent. She does not stop in trying to defend her husband. She always tries to find a way to release her husband. Hatsue never gives up and never surrender to prove that her husband is innocent even she realizes that people in San Piedro hard to trust her because she is Japanese.
c. Realistic
Hatsue is also a realistic person. She finds she lives in a country ofhakujin
but has to live as true Japanese girl in every ways. If there is anything in her that is not appropriate to a life of Japanese it has to be banished. It is hard for her but the fact requires her to fight her own feeling and to live as true Japanese like her mother and Mrs. Shigemura taught her. Hatsue’s realistic personality appears in her past life since she is a teenager when she thinks about her romance with Ishmael and her life among Japanese in San Piedro. She thinks she is an American because she was born in America but the fact that she is racially prejudiced realizes her that she should not think that she is an American. She is Japanese and always be Japanese in America.
She was on this place and she was not of this place, as her mother said, that she had the face of America’s enemy. She would never felt at home here among thehakujin. She had one foot in her parents’ home, and at the same time her feet were planted on San Piedro Island. No, she told herself, she merely followed her instincts, and her instincts did not make the kinds of distinctions having Japanese blood demanded (1995; 203-206).
On of the things she has to think that related to her race is her romantic relationship with Ishmael Chambers, a hakujin boy she is in romance with. She finally finds the truth that both of them could not be together because she is Japanese and Ishmael is ahakujin. Hatsue finally makes her decision that she has to end her romance with Ishmael
different and should not be together. She states to Ishmael that they have to separate. She tired to deceive her family for so many times. On the other hand, Ishmael does not want her to leave him. He wants Hatsue to stay with him that he and her will move to Seattle, a place he thinks they will be save there. Hatsue rejects Ishmael’s invitation. She knows that wherever they are as long as they are racially different, it is impossible for them to gain social acceptance.
“They’re arresting people like me there, too, just like here, Ishmael. A white and a Japanese—I don’t care if it’s Seattle—we couldn’t just go walking down the street together. Not after Pearl Harbor. You know that. You won’t be moving to Seattle, either. Let’s be honest to ourselves.” “We just have to be patient,” Ishmael replied. “This war won’t go on forever.”
“I know you do,” said Hatsue. “But I’m trying to be realistic about this. It’s not that simple, is what I’m saying. There are all these other things.” “Everything is going to be worked out,” said Ishmael. “You’ll see—it’ll work out.”
“I don’t see how,” answer Hatsue (1995; 206-208).
The conversation between Hatsue and Ishmael above shows that Hatsue realistically finds the situation does not support them to be together. She realizes that it is impossible for them to be together. She is Japanese and Ishmael is a
d. Patient
Hatsue is also a patient person. On the early days there is an attack from Japan to America, the Japanese family houses are all to be checked. On the night that is her family turn, there are three officers come to their house, one of them name Wilson, the one that check all of Hatsue’s stuff. He opens the box contain Hatsue’s pictures and journals. She does not like it but she chooses to silent then asks him not to open it. Hatsue knows that if she says something it will only increase their suspicious to her family so she lets the officer check on her stuff without say anything.
Wilson came back from the bedroom looking solemn; he carried Hatsue’s scrap book…. “You must ‘a’ been flattered by that.” Hatsue didn’t answer. “It’s a good picture,” added Wilson. “It’s look like you. Looks just like you, in facts.” Hatsue said nothing. She wished Wilson would get his hands off her scrapbook. She was thinking of asking him, politely, to put it down (1995: 202).
Hatsue feels angry that Wilson checks on her private stuff but she refuse to ask him to put it back or to ask him not to check on it. She knows that if she says something even only a word to show her dislike, it will invite the officers to be more suspicious to her family.
On the post war, when Hatsue has given birth for her third baby, she meets Ishmael Chambers on a grocery.
“The Japs did it,” Ishmael said flatly, still staring hard at the baby. “They shot my arm off. Japs.” Hatsue looked at him a moment longer, then turned toward Eleanor Hill again and opened up her coin purse (Guterson, 1995: 333).
not start any conversation but Ishmael suddenly sharply says “The Japs did it.” As the minor islander in San Piedro, Hatsue knows her respond to this is just to say nothing and leave, and her mannerism to this is still patient and say nothing and leave the grocery. Hatsue does not responses him even his words hurt her by blaming Japanese for his lost hand. She does not show that she is angry because of Ishmael’s words but prefers to leave without say anything.
On her testimony to Alvin Hooks, the attorney of the Heines, Hatsue also shows that she is a patient person. Alvin is ahakujinwho slightly shows that he is racially prejudice Hatsue and her husband because they are Japanese. Alvin asks her the same question more than once and put his negative opinion to her husband but Hatsue tells him patiently with the same answer.
“Mrs. Miyamoto,” he sighed. “Was I fair just now in describing your husband’s state of mind as ‘terribly exited’ on the morning of the
sixteenth—the morning Carl Heine was murdered? Have I by any change misinterpreted your testimony? Did he come home on that morning ‘terribly exited’?”
“He was terribly excited, certainly.”
“He didn’t seem himself? His state of mind was—agitated?
“Excited,” answered Hatsue. “Not agitated. He was excited about getting his family’s land back” (1995; 369 – 370).
2. The Characteristics of Kabuo Miyamoto
a. Responsible
Kabuo Miyamoto is a husband of Hatsue Miyamoto. They are married in Manzanar during the World War II. Like most of a father and a husband in a family, Kabuo is a responsible person. In the novel we can see from Kabuo’s struggle in owning his family land back which is sold by Etta Heine to another
hakujinduring the war.
“I’ll get the farm back,” Kabuo had answered over the din of the rain. “We’ll live there. We’ll grow strawberries. It will be alright. I’m going to get my farm back.” (Guterson, 1995: 362)
The quotation above is his conversation with Hatsue, her wife. He feels that it is not fair that Etta sold the land to someone else just because they leave San Piedro during the war. His promise to his wife is a proof that Kabuo is a responsible person as the head of the family.
Kabuo goes to the Heines house to talk to Etta. On her conversation with Etta he insists to get his family land back.
“You want to talk about that piece of land, you’re going to have to talk to Ole. I don’t have nothing to do with it.”
“Please,” replied Kabuo. “I talked to Mr. Jurgensen already.” “Well, good,” said Etta. “So you talked to him.”
“I talked to him,” said Kabuo. “He said I’d better talked to you.” (Guterson, 1995: 137).
Etta does not want to know about the land and she does not involve in that matter anymore but Kabuo still struggle to get the land back.
On his trial, Ole Jurgensen is one of the men who give testimony about Kabuo, he said that “He come summer of ’45, he does. He sh-shows up at my place and say Mrs. Heine robbed him. He said someday he would get his land back.” (1995: 145). From Ole testimony we can see that Kabuo is trying hard to get the land back. He comes to anyone who involve with it. He wants to show to his family that he is a responsible person to fill his promise which is by trying hard to get the land back.
Ole had remembered the Japanese man’s promise: how he stood in the fields and vowed that one day he would get his family land back. The Japanese man has slipped his mind altogether. Nine years had passed. (Guterson, 1995: 149)
It has been nine years ago, which is before the war, since Kabuo asks Ole to return the land to him. Moreover, for nine years Kabuo has hardly struggle to put the land back to him. He really wants the land back to him as it agreed by Etta and his father. Even the war is end, some problems in San Piedro, including his land status could not be avoided. He always wills to endure for the land. For his family, Kabuo will do anything to get the land back.
Another act that Kabuo shows his responsible personality is in Manzanar. In her conversation with Hatsue he tells her that he has to go to the war to fight the Japanese to prove to America that he is a citizen of America.
“You can die demonstrating all of that,” she told him. “I know you are brave and loyal.”
point of honor, he said, it was also a matter of having to go because his face was Japanese. (Guterson, 1995: 92).
He is trying to show his loyalty to America, the land where he was born, by become a volunteer to the war. Even he is Japanese, he tries to prove to America that he does not betray America and he is not on Japanese side that attacked Pearl Harbor. He wants to show that he is a responsible citizen. He finds that his wife is so worrying that he will be defeated and die in the war but he refuse to stay. He desires to prove to America that he is responsible to the country. It shows that Kabuo represents his responsible as a man who was born in America. He knows that people he will fight in the battle are Japanese, people of his kind, but he chooses to prove to America that he is a loyal citizen. From his conversation with Hatsue, the writer concludes that Kabuo wants to show his responsibility to as a citizen of America, the country where he was born, grow up and live.
b. Pessimistic
argue with hakujin. His words show that he has no hope to win the case and will not meet his family again.
His pessimistic personality also shows in another conversation, which is with Nels Gudmunsson, his attorney. Nels asks him to tell the story during his meeting with Carl Heine before Carl’s death in order to defend him.
“We’re sly and treacherous,” Kabuo said. “You can’t trust a Jap, can you? This island full of strong feeling, Mr. Gudmundsson, people who don’t often speak their minds but hate on the inside all the same.”
“There are men,” said Kabuo, “who hate me. They hate anyone who looks like the soldiers they fought” (Guterson,1995: 391).
Kabuo does not want to tell Nels about what happened. Kabuo’s thought shows that he is pessimistic in winning the trial, again, because he is Japanese. He thinks that nobody will trust him because he is Japanese. It is the same whether he tells Nels the truth or not, no one will believe Japanese. In Kabuo point of view
hakujin considers Japanese are bad and impossible to trust. He believes that people will trust that he is a murderer of Carl Heine because Carl is a hakujin
whom he has a problem with.
c. Helpful
They sat in a moment watching in silence while Kabuo Miyamoto went about his work.
“They’re too straight,” he announced. “They should work out well. I’m sorry we couldn’t do it better.”
“They’re very nice,” said Fujiko. “it’s a kind of you. Our thanks.”
“We’re going to build you six chairs,” said Kabuo, looking at Hatsue now. “Thank you,” said Fujiko. “You’re very kind.” (Guterson,1995: 328) Also, on the post-war after they return to San Piedro, Kabuo is willing to help his friend, Carl Heine who is ahakujin. On the last night that Carl still alive that is the last night he meets Carl on his boat, Kabuo helps Carl because his battery are dead. He and Carl have a gap for years because of the land problem but Kabuo never hate him. Even Carl turns to hate him because the land problem, Kabuo does not feel hesitate to help Carl when he is in trouble in the middle of the sea and needs help.
“I’m dead in the water. My batteries are drawed down. Both of them.” “All right,” said Kabuo. “Let’s tie up. I’ve got plenty of juice.”
“Thank God for that,” answered Carl. “It’s good luck to have run across you.”
“I’ve got two batteries,” Kabuo answered. “We’ll pull one and get you started.”
“Preciate that,” said Carl. “Things is I run D-8s, you see. S’pose you run off 6s.”
“I do,” said Kabuo. “But it will work if you got room. Anyway, we can refit your well…” (Guterson, 1995; 400-401).
B. The Influence of World War II toward Nisei Represented by Hatsue
Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto
The setting of Snow Falling on Cedar is before, during and after World War II that is in a fictional place named San Piedro and in Manzanar, one of Japanese relocation camp, in America. Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Term
defines that in a limitation sense, setting refers to “the general place and historical sense”, it is when and where the action occurs (Abrams, 1981: 175). To relate the story in the novel and in the real world the theory of setting is used to compare the condition in the novel and the condition in the real world. According to Holman and Harmon, the setting of time is known from the history that happens in that time (Holman and Harmon, 1986: 468). In the real world, America starts involve in World War II is on December 7 1941 and ends in 1945, as in the novel. Richard Gill in Mastering English Literature, setting can be an important aspect of the novel since most novelists have learnt about the setting to give significant into their novels (Gill, 1995:148). The writer finds that the significant of the novel is the World War II, its influence towardNiseiand the reaction ofNiseitoward it.
In the novel, Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto areNisei that is the second generation of Japanese who were born in America whose parents were
Issei, immigrants from Japan to America. One of the differences between Issei
and Nisei is that Nisei gets education in American school that their parents did not.
book Ethnic Americans: A History of Immigration and Assimilation stated Japanese immigrants, who by law could never become citizen themselves, demanded, nevertheless, that their children excel in the American school (1982: 47).
At school they were strangers for reasons unclear to him, though at the same time he understood it had to be that way because she was a Japanese and he wasn’t (Guterson, 1995: 98).
This quotation abovetakes from the novel, which is the narration of Ishmael’s mind, shows that Hatsue is aNiseiwhose goes to American school and blend with the whites.
The starting point of the big issue in the novel was when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 7, 1941. One of Hatsue’s neighbors, Mrs. Yamashita, shows the condition of the early days of the war.
“It’s very bad,” she said. “A bombing raid. 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” (Guterson,1995: 177).
From the quotation above, we can see that the setting of the novel is on the event when the World War II was begun. It also shows the place setting of the story which seen from the time or periods in which the action takes place the general environment of the characters (Holman and Harmon, 1986: 468). From the quotation above, the story happened in America because it stated that the attack happens in Pearl Harbor which is a harbor in America.
On the early days of the war, the Japanese no matter theIssei or theNisei
on the West Coast were forced to live in internment camps, the Japanese were uprooted from their homes and segregated in what were then called relocation center (Danico & Greenwood, 2004: 34). In the novel, the Japanese lives in a fictional place which the author names it San Piedro and when the war is began all of the Japanese in San Piedro moves to one of the relocation camp which is Manzanar.
On the early days of the war the government conducted all Japanese in America are spies. Within weeks, all persons of Japanese ancestry--…were sent to permanent relocation centers outside the restricted military zones. Sites included;…Manzanar (http://www. archives.gov/education/lessons/japanese-relocation/). During the World War II all Japanese are suspect as spies. All of them are to be checked and to be arrested. In the novel, we can see from Hatsue and Kabuo Miyamoto’s experience that Japanese in San Piedro are all to be investigated and move to relocation camp names Manzanar. The whites judge that all Japanese are the same no matter those who were born in America or those who are immigrant. All of them get the same treatment in Manzanar. By this event we can see that the whites undoubtfully suspect all Japanese who live in America as spies. They have to leave their home and properties, and move to the relocation center.
InTheory of Literature,Wellek and Warren say literature with its medium devices and objects is the representation of life itself (1956: 94). The story in
tradition, belief, ideology, the way of thinking, and behaving, and perhaps the social status of the character (Ganette, 1980; 33–35). In this analysis the writer focus on Nisei means that the writer will pay attention on Nisei’s custom, tradition, belief, ideology, way of thinking, and behaving. There are two Nisei
characters as the representation that will show the influence of World War II to
Niseiand the reaction ofNiseitoward World War II happened in the real world. The main influence that goes to Japanese in America is that they are racially prejudiced. The whites racially prejudice Japanese since their first arrival to America on 1800s but until the end of World War II it still goes on.Prejudice
is a negative attitude toward an entire category of people, often an ethnic or racial minority (Schaefer, 1986: 228). In this study, the racial minority is Japanese who suffers negative attitude from the hakujin. Not only to the Issei but those Nisei
who were born in America, whose nationality is American, also suffer for the whites’ racial prejudice.
The Nisei were Americans who grew up in American culture, but they had the face of the enemy. The problem for the Nisei is that, even if they had wanted to, the Nisei could not assimilate, they were already immersed in, and had internalized (http://evrything2.com/title/Nisei+Dilemma).
