Analysis Of The Children By Julie Otsuka

Julie Otsuka is a very distinctive author. She wrote the extract, "The Children", that illustrated the foundation Japanese mothers tried to set for their children but was taken back due to the American culture. Japanese children dislikes the amount of work ethnics that they have to commit in the fields. Once traveled to America, their field works became school works. The children compared the lifestyle of American children to themselves. Drained from their Japanese culture, every child wanted to live like an American. Otsuka, wrote the extract in first person plural to illustrate the differential connection between a culture and another culture and the way in which the audience could relate to each protagonist.
People begin to forget their cultural ethnics when they move in a new an

environment of a different ethnic background. "They forgot the names of flowers. They forgot the names of the colors.

They forgot how to count. They forgot how to pray" (Otsuka 1072). The Japanese children slowly traveled away from their culture when they observed the life of an American child. They compared their horrific lifestyle to the luxury of an American. "...there were fancy white houses with gold-framed mirrors and crystal doorknobs and porcelain toilets that flushed with the yank of a chain" (Otsuka 1069). "Mostly, they were ashamed of us. Our floppy straw hats and threadbare clothes. Our heavy accents" (Otsuka 1073). The use of "we", illustrates a realism effect. What I mean, as a reader, I can connect to the children, because I too compare my ethnicity to that of another ethnic group. For example, I am of an African American (black) and Caucasian (white) background. I would compare my lifestyle to an Indian ethnic group because I believe, Indians live a harmonious lifestyle. They do not have to pay taxes and receive college funds. Even though this is an opinion and observation, this is not necessarily accurate. Within the understanding of "we" as a parent, it is very difficult to relate because I am not a mother. Within a visual persona of a parent, or dream

as the children pursue, it would have my child feel as though their culture is degrading. Otsuka connects "we" on the relation of both parent and child through the connections of readers acknowledging how much they compare themselves to others.As a reader, it could be difficult or convenient to relate to an author's characters. It was very convenient to relate to Otsuka's children characterization. The children disliked their names and changed them. They excluded themselves in school. The readers and the characters share the same feeling of neglect. Neglect does not have to be taken place at home, it could also be through society. For example, the author introduces the sight of parents having their own favorites. It is true. "Some of us preferred our daughters, who were gentle and good, and some of us, like our mothers before us, preferred our sons" (Otsuka 1067). Readers could relate to this through parents mistreating them or not taking them everywhere they go. High school readers can relate, by finding themselves first. Simply meaning, one does not have set friends when starting freshman year. They are an outcast until they express their own personalities. Neglect is to help one find themselves and come out of their comfort zone.

The author uses the first person plural through the form of connections. Readers connect to the author's characters through comparing their culture to others and the feeling of neglect.I believe that the author used first person plural extremely well because it foretold two viewpoints. Even though it was difficult to understand which character was speaking, it taught major lessons. Never compare yourself to others, never lose your nationalities and feeling neglected is not always negative.