The Heart of Prejudice Prejudice is a two-headed serpent. When prejudice exists, it is never one-sided, and it is driven by fear. In The Heart of a Samurai, by Margi Preus, one sees the dual-sided fears that create prejudice. Fears of unfamiliar customs, differences in religion, and personal appearance issues created prejudices exhibited by the Japanese and the “barbarians”. The Japanese people called Americans the “foreign devils—the barbarians” (4). Fear was created in the Japanese because of their unfamiliarity with the American customs. In the book, the Japanese felt the Americans’ customs made them barbarians. They killed animals for shoes (26). Americans sat on benches rather than the floor (31). They used a fork to eat rather than
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They asked Manjiro to stop his “incessant bowing” (40). He was told to stand up and say, “Aye” when spoken to rather than lower his eyes in respect (59). The Americans felt that Japan did not “treat foreign visitors kindly” (62). They felt they would “boil us in big pots and skin us, too” (58). Differences in religion created prejudices between the Japanese and the “barbarians”. In Japan, the Buddhists believe it was wrong to kill any creature. In order to rectify this situation when killing for food, the Buddhist would offer a “prayer of gratitude” (48). Manjiro felt that “they should say a prayer asking for forgiveness for what they had done and express gratitude to the whale for the gift of its life” (48). The Americans, not believing this religion, simply killed unceremoniously. Missionaries came to Japan to spread Christianity. They alienated the people of Japan by requiring them to change “everything about their lives” (86). The Americans believed that the Japanese were “ignorant pagans” (44). In the churches in America, Manjiro suffered prejudice from the congregations in which he attended services. He encountered “stifled coughs and frowning faces” (136). The elders felt he “would be more comfortable in the seats reserved for negroes” …show more content…
As one learns in the book, the Japanese and the Americans both harbored prejudice. Differences in the two cultures led to fear and misunderstanding about each other. Variety of religions and religious practices can create prejudice. People’s views of God can push others away. As Mrs Whitfield stated, “Why there should be such a thing as a separate pew for colored people—honestly! And in a place of worship that claims to believe in equality for all” (140). Personal appearance, when perceived as a difference, creates prejudice. The color of our skin, the style of our clothing, the texture of our hair can be used as a reason for hate. Prejudice was seen in our historical past; however, it is still seen in various forms today. Hate crimes exist today because of prejudice due to race, sex, religion and sexual orientation. In The Heart of a Samurai, a question is posed, “Are you going to get up and help the world change?” (141). To get the world to change, the world must learn to fight the fears of unfamiliar customs, learn to tolerate differences in religion, and strive to ignore personal appearance issues. Only then, will the world create the “mighty heart of a samurai”
They asked Manjiro to stop his “incessant bowing” (40). He was told to stand up and say, “Aye” when spoken to rather than lower his eyes in respect (59). The Americans felt that Japan did not “treat foreign visitors kindly” (62). They felt they would “boil us in big pots and skin us, too” (58). Differences in religion created prejudices between the Japanese and the “barbarians”. In Japan, the Buddhists believe it was wrong to kill any creature. In order to rectify this situation when killing for food, the Buddhist would offer a “prayer of gratitude” (48). Manjiro felt that “they should say a prayer asking for forgiveness for what they had done and express gratitude to the whale for the gift of its life” (48). The Americans, not believing this religion, simply killed unceremoniously. Missionaries came to Japan to spread Christianity. They alienated the people of Japan by requiring them to change “everything about their lives” (86). The Americans believed that the Japanese were “ignorant pagans” (44). In the churches in America, Manjiro suffered prejudice from the congregations in which he attended services. He encountered “stifled coughs and frowning faces” (136). The elders felt he “would be more comfortable in the seats reserved for negroes” …show more content…
As one learns in the book, the Japanese and the Americans both harbored prejudice. Differences in the two cultures led to fear and misunderstanding about each other. Variety of religions and religious practices can create prejudice. People’s views of God can push others away. As Mrs Whitfield stated, “Why there should be such a thing as a separate pew for colored people—honestly! And in a place of worship that claims to believe in equality for all” (140). Personal appearance, when perceived as a difference, creates prejudice. The color of our skin, the style of our clothing, the texture of our hair can be used as a reason for hate. Prejudice was seen in our historical past; however, it is still seen in various forms today. Hate crimes exist today because of prejudice due to race, sex, religion and sexual orientation. In The Heart of a Samurai, a question is posed, “Are you going to get up and help the world change?” (141). To get the world to change, the world must learn to fight the fears of unfamiliar customs, learn to tolerate differences in religion, and strive to ignore personal appearance issues. Only then, will the world create the “mighty heart of a samurai”