Character Analysis: A Step From Heaven

Have you ever found yourself in a tough situation that you only wished to escape? Have you ever noticed that trying to escape can make your problems grow worse? You should never ignore your problems or get caught up in the past because it is always more advantageous to face your present difficulties. In A Step from Heaven the main character, Young Ju, and her family (the Park family) move from Korea to America in hope of a better life. They find themselves at a financial disadvantage, and in order for them to thrive in America, they have to put in a lot of homework. Apa, Young Ju’s father, seems to be overwhelmed by the hard work and different American customs, especially involving women’s rights. He tries to avoid all of these struggles …show more content…
She does this by showing the negative consequences for the family when Apa tries to use his newspaper and his past to escape the family’s reality and problems. Apa was never a great husband or father or person in general. Even though he was the opposite of a step from heaven, Apa could be playful and loving on rare occasions. The first notice of the Korean newspaper was at the end of one of these treasure moments. The text states, “Apa laughs and gasps at the same time… As he shuffles off to the bathroom, Apa picks up the Korean newspaper from the coffee table…” (p.52) This change of mood when the Korean newspaper is introduced shows a change in Apa. It shows that the struggles of the family in America are beginning to swallow up Apa’s happiness because he is forcing himself back into the past to try to escape facing them. He tries to escape their new American life and stay in the past by burying himself in Korean newspapers. Apa seems to miss Korean life and customs because in America they are poor, and the women are learning to adjust to and take advantage of their newfound American rights, especially Young Ju. In addition, “[Apa] turns around confused… I lead. Apa stays a step behind...Apa has somehow managed to find an old Korea Times newspaper and is so busy reading…” (pp.76-78) This shows that Young Ju notices Apa experiencing an unfamiliar lack of power. Apa does not approve of the fact that, when they go out in America, Young Ju is more intelligent and more powerful due to her being more experienced and having a better understanding of the language. This is the cause of Apa’s need to bury himself in the Korean newspaper. He is in denial of the fact that Young Ju is taking over his power and wishes he could go back to the past where he would have never experienced