Characterization:
The Wakatsuki Family
Jeanne: The main character and the protagonist. She
is the youngest member of the Wakatsuki clan, and is loved by her father. Jeanne
is a very attentive little girl and recalls on her and her families
involvements before, during, and after her time in Manzanar. You can tell that
she adds an unemotional effect to the book, separating her emotions from
factual events and commenting now and then showing that she is coming to terms
with her own memories. As the book is just
beginning, she is a very innocent and naïve 7 year old, but as the book goes on
and she gets older, her outlook on life drastically changes. She grows to lose
that innocence in a sense that she now recognizes the truths behind Manzanar,
herself, and her family.
Papa: Leader of the family and Jeanne’s father. Papa
became one of the most complicated and tragic characters throughout the book.
Being a noncitizen of the United States and nearly not existing back in Japan,
has left papa with nowhere to belong and no place to call home. The only thing left
to papas name is his business, house, family, and satisfaction in having
succeeded in in the United States even though all chances were against him.
When he was taken away from his family and charged with un-loyalty to the U.S,
he lost everything to his name, ripped his family apart, and his honor and
pride was turned into resentment and anger. Papas in a sense a strong example
in which used to show what the internment, and government itself, did to
destroy even some of the most loving people.
Mama: Jeanne’s mother and matriarch. Mama was
always very patient and caring of her family, especially her husband when he
seemed to get out of hand. She was a very dignified and respectable woman.
Although papa was very hostile and violent towards her, she was one of the
first to forgive him, showing her commitment to her own family. Whenever money
was needed, she was there to provide, whether it was getting a job at the
cannery or being a dietician. When the barrack needed patching up, she was
there to patch it. When Jeanne needed
assistance in finding a dress, she was there to help find her the perfect dress
that shows her beauty, while also being very modest. Mama bared the entire
burden and didn’t complain about it once; her selfless behavior fueled her
family to be strong in times of hardships.
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