Rochel Gertsberg
Michael J. Fox once said, “One’s dignity may be assaulted, vandalized, and cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it’s surrendered.” Fox said that one’s dignity will always remain, no matter what is done to him, unless he gives it up. Dignity is modesty, pride, tenacity, and honor; those things can never be taken away. Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston’s Farwell to Manzanar illustrates this point. The Wakatsuki family is forced to move to Manzanar, a Japanese internment camp, where their dignity is tested. They live in horrible conditions, without privacy or sanitation. Some of the family members maintain their dignity, while others slowly give it up.
Throughout the entire experience, Mama maintains her dignity. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the Wakatsuki family is forced to sell their possessions and move. A potential buyer comes to offer Mama a price for her valuable dishes. He offers her a low sum and says that is all he can offer. Jeanne describes Mama, “She reached into the red velvet case, took out a dinner plate and hurled it at the floor right in front of his feet” (14). Rather than selling it to him and giving in, she holds strong. She smashes the plates instead of taking his money. She would rather not sell them then sell them at such a small price. Mama has pride; she keeps her dignity and refuses to be at the pity of this man. …show more content…
The latrine in the camp is public. When Mama and Jeanne go to the bathroom, Jeanne describes her mother, “My mother was a very modest person” (32). She describes her mother as a modest person, a very important aspect of dignity. Mama shows her modesty at the latrine. Rather than going to the bathroom publicly, she borrows a cardboard box to use as a screen. Mama is forced into a situation where modesty is close to impossible, yet she finds a way to remain modest and keep her
Michael J. Fox once said, “One’s dignity may be assaulted, vandalized, and cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it’s surrendered.” Fox said that one’s dignity will always remain, no matter what is done to him, unless he gives it up. Dignity is modesty, pride, tenacity, and honor; those things can never be taken away. Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston’s Farwell to Manzanar illustrates this point. The Wakatsuki family is forced to move to Manzanar, a Japanese internment camp, where their dignity is tested. They live in horrible conditions, without privacy or sanitation. Some of the family members maintain their dignity, while others slowly give it up.
Throughout the entire experience, Mama maintains her dignity. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the Wakatsuki family is forced to sell their possessions and move. A potential buyer comes to offer Mama a price for her valuable dishes. He offers her a low sum and says that is all he can offer. Jeanne describes Mama, “She reached into the red velvet case, took out a dinner plate and hurled it at the floor right in front of his feet” (14). Rather than selling it to him and giving in, she holds strong. She smashes the plates instead of taking his money. She would rather not sell them then sell them at such a small price. Mama has pride; she keeps her dignity and refuses to be at the pity of this man. …show more content…
The latrine in the camp is public. When Mama and Jeanne go to the bathroom, Jeanne describes her mother, “My mother was a very modest person” (32). She describes her mother as a modest person, a very important aspect of dignity. Mama shows her modesty at the latrine. Rather than going to the bathroom publicly, she borrows a cardboard box to use as a screen. Mama is forced into a situation where modesty is close to impossible, yet she finds a way to remain modest and keep her