Compared to the first chapter of When the Emperor Was Divine, which is recounted from the woman’s perspective, the second chapter conveyed through the girl’s perspective has a different tone. Unlike the woman, who apprehensively prepares the family to leave their home, the girl’s perspective creates a lighter, less disheartening, more hopeful, and positive tone. For example, when a soldier notifies the girl she must close the train’s shade, she views the soldier in a positive light. The girl articulates, “His voice was soft and low and he did not smile but she knew that he would if he could. She did not know how she knew this, but she did” (Otsuka 27). Instead of describing the soldier as hostile and stern, the girl informs the reader, he was only performing his job and would be friendly in a different situation. In
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Additionally, the girl’s perspective in the second chapter permits the reader to observe another side of the woman. At times during the train ride, the woman lovingly comforts the girl. Before the girl throws up, the mother provides her with a brown paper bag. After the event, “She [the mother] continued to rub her [the girl’s] back and the girl did not push her away” (Otsuka 26). In the first chapter, the woman’s love for her children is not as evident. Furthermore, the girl assists in developing the boy’s character throughout the chapter. Through the girl’s perspective, the reader discovers the boy loves horses and yearns to become a jockey one day (Otsuka 31). Thus, the second chapter of When the Emperor Was Divine, demonstrates how the girl perceived the Japanese internment events in a more innocent and optimistic way. From the girl’s viewpoint, the reader gains a stronger sense of the personalities of her mother, brother, and the girl,
Additionally, the girl’s perspective in the second chapter permits the reader to observe another side of the woman. At times during the train ride, the woman lovingly comforts the girl. Before the girl throws up, the mother provides her with a brown paper bag. After the event, “She [the mother] continued to rub her [the girl’s] back and the girl did not push her away” (Otsuka 26). In the first chapter, the woman’s love for her children is not as evident. Furthermore, the girl assists in developing the boy’s character throughout the chapter. Through the girl’s perspective, the reader discovers the boy loves horses and yearns to become a jockey one day (Otsuka 31). Thus, the second chapter of When the Emperor Was Divine, demonstrates how the girl perceived the Japanese internment events in a more innocent and optimistic way. From the girl’s viewpoint, the reader gains a stronger sense of the personalities of her mother, brother, and the girl,