Hotel Allusions

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In the novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, allusions are tied into the story to make the book seem more realistic. These allusion allow the story to seem more alive and realistic First and foremost, the Panama Hotel is a dominant allusion and part of the setting in the story. This hotel portrays a significant landmark in the city of Seattle that divides Chinatown from Japantown. "The old bachelor hotel had stood as a gateway between Seattle's Chinatown and Nihonmachi, Japantown" (3). The basement of the hotel was used as a storage for Japanese families to place their belongings in before being taken away. Henry, the main character, visits this hotel multiple times in search of Keiko's belongings. Though the hotel does not present a huge role in the novel, it accords the reader with an image that they can relate to real life. In addition, the Pearl Harbor bombings also become a component in the story. Aftermath from the bombing effect Japanese citizens in numerous ways. The whites blame all Japanese in America for the bombing and discriminate against them. Some even get arrested for no …show more content…

Due to the war, everything was being rationed such as sugar, gasoline, tires, and booze. To get into the club, Henry and Keiko had to go to the pharmacy to pick up some prescribes medicine with 80% alcohol, but they did not know if it was a good idea or not. However, they came to the verdict to go ahead and do it. With much surprise, the clerk did not charge them, and he was not the least bit surprised with 12 year olds purchasing "medicine". "But the clerk, a young black man, just winked and flashed them a knowing smile as he slipped their bottles into separate bags" (53). With alcohol off the market at the time, people had to illegally try and receive it if they wanted it. These allusions all have a niche in bringing real life factors into the

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