Figurative Language In Joy Kogawa's Obasan

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During World War II, countless Japanese Canadians, and Americans, were relocated to internment camps out of fear of where their loyalties would lie. Because of this, those people were stricken from their homes and had their lives altered forever. Joy Kogawa’s Obasan highlights this traumatic event. In this excerpt, Kogawa uses shifts in point of view and style to depict her complex attitude and perception of the past. In the beginning of the passage, the author is speaking in the first person plural point of view. Kogawa is talking in general about what was happening to her people: “we are leaving the B.C. coast… we are going down to the middle of the Earth…” She in no way singles herself out above the rest or provides any detail of her …show more content…

I am a small child… I am wearing…” Kogawa begins to speak of what she went through during relocation as a young child with her Obasan (aunt). The author no longer uses figurative language to describe the occurrence, but instead selection of detail. When informing the reader of a very young mother on the train she used details to emphasize her points. The “... tiny red-faced…” description of the baby highlighted the fact that it was born prematurely only days prior. Also, the “... birdlike face” of the mother created a relation in the reader’s thoughts between the mother and birds who are iconic for caring for their young. The most important detail included in this section is the gesture on Obasan’s part for this young mother. The young lady had nothing for her baby, “not even diapers.” So in an effort to help this woman in some way, Obasan wrapped up some food in a cloth and gave it to her. This is very important to the story because it shows that even in their darkest times her people are still giving and will sacrifice what little they have for someone who has even less. By including details and speaking in first person singular point of view the author made what was happening feel much more personal and real because instead of a generalized group that is being terrorized, it’s individuals and shows the author’s pride in her

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