Our past can forever follow us, like a shadow you can not change or leave. Ultimately, we learn from our past and the events that happened to better ourselves and to learn and adapt. In the book, “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” the author, Jamie Ford, uses symbolism to reveal Henry’s father’s troubled past, and how it creates conflict in their relationship. Henry’s father’s past influences the relationship he has with Henry later in the story. Being a Chinese nationalist he strongly discourages the Japanese, making his relationship with Henry more difficult as his closest friend is Japanese.
The ume tree bears a very important resemblance to Henry’s father, reflecting his past. Henry described it as “being used for decoration, and …show more content…
With all the great difficulties he faced, they would be put on Henry when he moved to the United States. Although the war was taking place, many Japanese were being taken, Henry’s father didn’t hesitate in making him wear a button for people to know he was Chinese, even though throughout the story, numerous times he was mistaken for being Japanese. Soon arriving at the school, a Japanese-American, named Keiko, is brought to work in the kitchen. Henry thought, “the number of Japanese friends he could have rhyming with the word hero, zero” (Ford 20). He knows his father would not allow Henry to have a Japanese friend, knowing the passion of dislike and hatred he has towards them. So he decides to keep it a secret for some time. One day, as Henry talks to Sheldon, he thinks Henry has a girlfriend, Keiko. Henry says, “No, she’s a Japanese friend. My parents would kill me if they found out” (Ford 28). Knowingly Henry has to choose between following his father's orders or being friends with a Japanese person. Choosing to disobey his dad, he remains friends, but sooner or later they’re taken and Henry doesn’t know what to do going to his father and saying, You can’t ignore me anymore. They are taking everyone away” (Ford 125). Then, his father responds with “Better than us” (Ford 125). Showing his opinion about the Japanese is still strong, Henry is left hopeless with his only closest friend being taken away. Not even Henry, his son, can change his thought process on the Japs. Their relationship is ultimately put to an end when Henry comes home from school one day “As he walked through the door his lips felt silent and lost his breath, across the table were Kieko family albums” (Ford 182). The album he promised to keep safe while she was at Camp Harmony was now found. He was left to choose between going after what had been thrown away or continuing to participate in his household.
The ume tree bears a very important resemblance to Henry’s father, reflecting his past. Henry described it as “being used for decoration, and …show more content…
With all the great difficulties he faced, they would be put on Henry when he moved to the United States. Although the war was taking place, many Japanese were being taken, Henry’s father didn’t hesitate in making him wear a button for people to know he was Chinese, even though throughout the story, numerous times he was mistaken for being Japanese. Soon arriving at the school, a Japanese-American, named Keiko, is brought to work in the kitchen. Henry thought, “the number of Japanese friends he could have rhyming with the word hero, zero” (Ford 20). He knows his father would not allow Henry to have a Japanese friend, knowing the passion of dislike and hatred he has towards them. So he decides to keep it a secret for some time. One day, as Henry talks to Sheldon, he thinks Henry has a girlfriend, Keiko. Henry says, “No, she’s a Japanese friend. My parents would kill me if they found out” (Ford 28). Knowingly Henry has to choose between following his father's orders or being friends with a Japanese person. Choosing to disobey his dad, he remains friends, but sooner or later they’re taken and Henry doesn’t know what to do going to his father and saying, You can’t ignore me anymore. They are taking everyone away” (Ford 125). Then, his father responds with “Better than us” (Ford 125). Showing his opinion about the Japanese is still strong, Henry is left hopeless with his only closest friend being taken away. Not even Henry, his son, can change his thought process on the Japs. Their relationship is ultimately put to an end when Henry comes home from school one day “As he walked through the door his lips felt silent and lost his breath, across the table were Kieko family albums” (Ford 182). The album he promised to keep safe while she was at Camp Harmony was now found. He was left to choose between going after what had been thrown away or continuing to participate in his household.