Throughout the war, Jeanne watches her father struggle to navigate life within the confines of Manzanar, an internment camp for Japanese-Americans that was constructed following the attacks on Pearl Harbor. After months of separation following his incarceration in North Dakota, Papa’s reunification with his family is marred by his development of alcoholism and the resulting episodes of violence, which inevitably strains his relationship with his family. Years later, as Jeanne reflects on her life in the camps and her father’s behavior, she declares that although Papa did not die in the camps, his life ended there. Despite the Houstons’ assertion in Farewell to Manzanar that Papa’s life ended in the camp, a closer examination reveals that while
…show more content…
Throughout the memoir, Jeanne’s narrative scrutinizes her father’s newly developed dependency on alcohol, often recounting Papa’s violent episodes that derived from his alcoholism. These outbursts significantly contributed to the Houstons’ conclusion that Papa’s life essentially ended at the camp. However, his struggle with alcoholism appears to be a symptom of his circumstances rather than a condemnation, as evidenced by his eventual success in overcoming it following his release from Manzanar. Papa’s dependency on alcohol was quickly noticed by his family following their reunification. Jeanne recounts, “Day after day he would sip his rice wine or his apricot brandy, sip till he was blind drunk and passed out” (Houston 59). Yet, Papa does not die an alcoholic. He passed away twelve years after Manzanar, a sober man. Like numerous Japanese fathers in the camps, Papa grapples with the loss of his dignity and the erosion of his traditional family role as the patriarch. Jeanne acknowledges this, stating, “He had no rights, no home, no control over his own
Throughout the memoir, Jeanne’s narrative scrutinizes her father’s newly developed dependency on alcohol, often recounting Papa’s violent episodes that derived from his alcoholism. These outbursts significantly contributed to the Houstons’ conclusion that Papa’s life essentially ended at the camp. However, his struggle with alcoholism appears to be a symptom of his circumstances rather than a condemnation, as evidenced by his eventual success in overcoming it following his release from Manzanar. Papa’s dependency on alcohol was quickly noticed by his family following their reunification. Jeanne recounts, “Day after day he would sip his rice wine or his apricot brandy, sip till he was blind drunk and passed out” (Houston 59). Yet, Papa does not die an alcoholic. He passed away twelve years after Manzanar, a sober man. Like numerous Japanese fathers in the camps, Papa grapples with the loss of his dignity and the erosion of his traditional family role as the patriarch. Jeanne acknowledges this, stating, “He had no rights, no home, no control over his own