Henry Hoagland Analysis

While Henry grew up, it appeared as if he was always in constant conflict with himself. Although raised under the Korean culture by his parents, the foundation of Henry’s childhood was also built on American values, which were bestowed to him upon his mostly Caucasian American friends. As a result, Henry struggled to determine his identity. During the time he worked with his father at his store, Henry noticed that his “father like all successful immigrants before him gently and not so gently exploited his own” (54). Now, working as an American spy - although he doesn’t necessarily consider himself one - for Hoagland, Henry might realize that no matter which culture or values he chooses to pursue, it always seemingly results in one being taken

In his father’s mind, this exploitation was how every “successful immigrant” achieved success. Therefore, Henry may feel that exploiting the people he is assigned to investigate, is how he achieves his own success, but is considered the “darkest version” because of the scale it is accomplished on.

Henry’s spy career may function as a metaphor for cultural assimilation because when he spys on Koreans, he may be learning more about his own culture than he would otherwise; however, in the same way, he was also be assimilating into American culture because he is aware of its tendency of exploitation.

At the novel’s conclusion, why does Henry appear to derive joy from his position assisting Lelia? How does her approach to speech therapy differ from the lessons Henry was taught as a child (see p. 233)? How has Lelia’s life with Henry and Mitt influenced the way she relates to her students?

Henry appears to derive joy from assisting Lelia since he has not only been given another chance to play the role of a father, ever since his son, Mitt’s, life was cut short, but he is also given the opportunity to repair his relationship with