“Lessons in life will be repeated until they are learned” (Frank Sonnenberg). In the novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford, Henry learns multiple valuable lessons from his family and friends. An unlikely source of wisdom is Ms. Beatty, who is a lunch lady at Henry’s school. She teaches Henry that empathy and open-mindedness empower him to understand others and stand up for them. Henry’s father, Mr. Lee, indirectly portrays the importance of communication, a lesson Henry has to learn with his own son, Marty. Once he eventually realizes this, he creates an ideal relationship with Marty’s girlfriend, Samantha. Finally, Henry’s love interest, Keiko, shows Henry how there is always hope left, no matter the situation. Even …show more content…
Beatty consistently shows Henry the importance of empathy. Initially, she prevents Chaz, a school bully, from attacking Henry and Keiko, his girlfriend. This shows her understanding of Henry’s position and desire to help him. Later, she gives Henry a chance to go to the Japanese internment camp that Keiko is being held at. Henry is extremely grateful for the opportunity, thinking that he “wouldn’t miss it for the world” (150). Ms. Beatty gives him this chance for similar motives as she had previously: understanding Henry and wanting to help him. Henry has learned this lesson when he stands up against Chaz and his friends, who are defacing Japanese buildings and looting the contents. Henry prevents them from doing any more damage by threatening to “hit a curveball the size of Chaz’s head” (170). Not only is he standing up for Keiko by doing this, but he has empathy for the interned Japanese Canadians and their belongings as …show more content…
Initially, when Keiko is sent to an internment camp, Henry is devastated, which is evident when he explodes in front of his parents. However, meeting with Keiko at the fence renews his dreams of eventually reuniting. The most prominent example of this is when Henry says “I’d rather have the dream too”, (162) in reference to Keiko’s dream about them being together. This shows that Henry has returned to the belief that the trainwreck of a scenario that Keiko and him are stuck in has an escape. Additionally, when he sees Keiko in the internment camp for the last time, she tells him “I’m safe here, and it won’t be forever” (234). Through this sentence, Keiko reinforces Henry’s belief that she’ll be able to leave the internment camp unharmed. This also reinforces Henry’s understanding of hope. Finally, Henry’s understanding of hope is shown when he meets Keiko in the future. By doing this, he proves that he believes in hope because he’s hoping that the address is actually Keiko’s, and hoping that Keiko still remembers his past. Furthermore, Henry notes the trip is about “blind faith” (283), or hope. He understands the fundamental wishful thinking that comprises such an endeavour, and decides to go through with it anyways. This instance of hope, along with the other examples mentioned,
I know the theme is acceptance strengthens bonds between family and friends.Because the text says Henry is on lunch duty in his all white school when he is joined by a Japanese girl named Keiko. At first, he is dumbfounded but slowly starts to accept her as the other white kids are teasing them. They share a can of peaches in the school pantry and Henry enjoys his time with her very much. A quote from the text Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet says “Then they ate their lunch, together, splitting a can of pears in the storage room. Henry thought they tasted especially good that day.” These sentences have a much deeper meaning than they appeared to have. The moment Henry and Keiko shared in the storage room was the blossom of their friendship.
Henry's relationship with his father was rough to say the least, but it did help shape him into the person he was . The two of them never really saw eye to eye. His father, who grew up in China, had very strong opinions about opinions against the Japanese. When Henry told him about his Japanese friend Keiko, he did not
Henry's first-person narrative is the most important element of these stories. Through it he recounts the events of his life, his experiences with others, his accomplishments and troubles. The great achievement of this narrative voice is how effortlessly it reveals Henry's limited education while simultaneously demonstrating his quick intelligence, all in an entertaining and convincing fashion. Henry introduces himself by introducing his home-town of Perkinsville, New York, whereupon his woeful g...
In the book, Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, it follows a Olympian named Louie Zamperini, and his journey. Louie Zamperini was born in Olean, New York, his family later then moved to Torrance, California. Louie is: rebellious, resourceful, among many other things. Louie is who he is because of how he grew up, and the obstacles he overcame. Louie Zamperini shows rebellious and resourceful characteristic traits through his actions.
Set in the turmoil of WW2, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a love of bitterness and sweetness book involving a Japanese girl, Keiko, and a Chinese boy, Henry. They strives to keep their relationship and deal with the consequences inflicted upon them by their parents and the war. As the story rolls along, many thoughts occurred that Henry and Keiko would be able to marry, but a twist happens, which results in their separation; unquestionably, Henry and Keiko moves on to have their own family.Therefore, does Henry gives up on Keiko too easily? Yes, Henry give up on Keiko too easily. Henry has his chance of going back to Keiko, but he let it slips by. He tries to forget about Keiko and moves on with his life. Henry thought that his decision is what seems right and the best thing to do. Although many readers may think that Henry does not give up on Keiko too easily as they got reunited at the end, but there were more than just the reuniting. This would eventually prove that Henry give up on Keiko too easily.
They Lamartine family notices their cheerful Henry is not the same as before. "He sat in his chair gripping the armrests with all his might, as if the chair itself was moving at high speed and if he let go at all he would rocket forward and maybe crash right through the set." (444) It is disheartening to read about the Henry we know as carefree, life loving guy, who turns so damaged, and hurt by what the war has done to him. This example of Henry only shows the audience how war can completely ruin a person. "His face was totally white and hard. Then it broke, like stones break all of a sudden when water boils up inside them." (446) You sense a sign in reference to how run-downed Henry is, and how is brother only wants the best for him. Lyman wants the old Henry back, the brother he knew on that once adventures summer. Unfortunately this story is not a happy ending and Henry cannot snap out of it. Making any reader think twice before joining the
In the play, “Much Ado About Nothing”, love and romance play a major role throughout the play.It takes place in Messina. The play has a lot of characters that fall in love with each other. Besides romance and love there is a lot of jealousy in the play. Characters will have up and down moments throughout the book, but they will all get together at the end of the story. Many scenes in the play will be about characters making other characters fall in love by telling one another that one likes the other. The play is all about characters getting together and being happy.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is an eye opening novel by Jamie Ford following the life of Chinese American, Henry Lee, and his Japanese American companion Keiko Okabe and their struggle throughout a period of discrimination, prejudice and paranoia in Settle Washington during World War Two. At first glance, one might assume that the theme of the book is along the lines of something romantic; however, there is one reoccurring theme that is misunderstandings and misinterpretations can lead to harmful situations. This theme is seen quite often through the book; however, three of the most preeminent instances are Henry had believed Keiko had stopped caring for him when instead his father had prevented Henry from receiving his letters, when Henry’s father and the rest of the community had believed all Japanese were inherently their nemeses, and when Henry kept his past a secret to Marty because the thought it would upset Marty.
Henry’s father, a strict, war-obsessed man essentially dictates Henry’s life, distancing the two as Henry continues to oppose his father’s views. Because of his father’s controlling ways, there is little love to be lost between the father and son. This animosity between them can be seen when Henry is about to leave his apartment to retrieve the family photos of his Japanese friend Keiko. His father tells him that should Henry leave to help Keiko, he “[is] no longer part of this family” (Ford 185).
At first glance, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye simply tells the story of Holden Caulfield, who is often characterized as annoying and whiny by the people around him. The anti-hero frequently speaks on impulse, making quick and often inaccurate observations of others. Holden’s immature and overly critical attitude turns off those he encounters, who are displeased with how callow he is. However, what these characters fail to understand is that there is actually a sort of sophistication behind Holden’s reasoning. In fact, throughout the novel, Holden disguises his maturity through outward displays of childishness.
Imagine that everything you knew about where you resided turned out to be a big lie and that you were the only person that knew about it. Jonas the main character from The Giver by Lois Lowry, is a kid in a perfect community or so he thinks. Jonas receives the job of The Receiver of Memories. He receives many memories to ascertain that his "perfect" community is a fraud. He then plans an escape plan and succeeds. The novel The Giver by Lois Lowry shows its readers the basic truth that in life choices are a huge part in our lives and that sometimes it’s good to make our own choices but sometimes it's isn't. People have strong desires and with the ability for us to choose the scenario sometimes gets worse, and as people we also
Henry suffers from retrograde amnesia due to internal bleeding in the part of the brain that controls memory. This causes him to forget completely everything he ever learned. His entire life is forgotten and he has to basically relearn who he was, only to find he didn’t like who he was and that he didn’t want to be that person. He starts to pay more attention to his daughter and his wife and starts to spend more time with them.
...a of what his life would have been had he been born and raised by an American Family. This shows that he has been trying to run away from the shadow of his own Culture in an effort to gain acceptance in the American Culture. However, his unruly behavior might have resulted due to the lack of support from his family especially his father. His father’s determination of trying to keep him bounded to the Korean tradition and values might have what actually pushed Henry away. For example, when Henry decides to take an American girl to the Spring Dance, his father justifies her interest in her son due his financial background. He says to Henry, “You real dummy, Henry. Don’t you know? You just free dance ticket. She just using you” (Pg. 74). This illustrates that Henry has been struggling to gain his father’s respect and approval in him but was never able to achieve that.
Would you kill your father, marry your mother, and father four children with her? The obvious answer here is no. However, in Sophocles famous playwright, Oedipus rex, the protagonist, Oedipus did not have the choice of answering no, for his fate had already been decided. One of the main topics brought up by readers and critics is the question of whether Oedipus Rex was admirable or significantly flawed. Though Oedipus has had his fair share of sins that make him a flawed character such as committing patricide and incest, I believe that his admirable traits such as his sense of justice, love for his family, love for his country and people outshine the darkness controlled by fate.
The state of affairs and the grim reality of the war lead Henry towards an ardent desire for a peaceful life, and as a result Henry repudiates his fellow soldiers at the warfront. Henry’s desertion of the war is also related to his passionate love for Catherine. Henry’s love for Catherine is progressive and ironic. This love develops gradually in “stages”: Henry’s attempt at pretending love for Catherine towards the beginning of the novel, his gradually developing love for her, and finally, Henry’s impas... ...