Picture Bride Character Analysis

When war breaks out, it’s an awful time for everyone and it may even seem like the end of the world. When troublesome things happen within a family it may also feel life-changing in a bad way. Well Hana Takeda in Picture Bride most definitely felt both of these things throughout her life. Picture Bride by Yoshiko Uchida is about a Japanese woman who decides to move to America to marry a so-called successful man named Taro. When she arrives she meets a lonely, balding Japanese man with a run-down shop that isn’t selling much. Hana struggles through temptations, family hardships along with war evacuations and death all in her lifetime, quickly learning that some conflicts are worse than others.

Hana had some emotional difficulties with

both family and temptations throughout her life with her husband and daughter. Because Hana was scheduled to marry a man she had never met, she felt that she fit better with another man. "Suddenly, she reached out and clasped Yamaka's hand in both of her own....And for that brief moment, Taro did not even seen to exist [...] When they were alone in the flat, he had taken her in his arms and kissed her with such hunger that she had almost lost control" (p.40,53 Uchida). Hana really severed her trust with her husband, Taro, after he realized what was happening between her and his friend. Though Hana was forced to marry Taro both Taro and she felt absolutely awful about Hana giving into the temptation of lust and cheating on Taro. Another example of inner problems Hana had was when her daughter, Mary, left her and Taro to elope with a man she loved. "'Mama,' he said hoarsely, 'Mary has left us! How could she have done such a thing?'...'Dear Mother and Dad,' Mary wrote. ‘By the time you read this. Joe Cantelli and I will be in Reno, and I will be Joe's wife. Forgive me, but we had to do it this way," (p. 144 Uchida). Mary devastated her parents by leaving because their only child had left the household unexpectedly and told them that she wasn’t to return. Hana had a really rough time accepting that Mary left and felt like their family had been torn apart. Though at the time Hana felt that her world was falling apart due to these moments of her life, later it really was the world falling apart at her expense.
During Hana's life the war between Japan and America broke out after the surprise attack Japan made on Pearl Harbor, discriminating the Japanese-Americans nationwide.

Japanese were treated unjustly which inevitably affected Hana and Taro very quickly. “The President of the United States authorized the Secretary of War and his military commanders to prescribe areas which any or all persons could be excluded...'It means we are all going to be evacuated one day soon,' Taro explained sadly, 'It means we are all going to be uprooted from our homes and interned without a trial or a hearing," (p. 154 Uchida). When Japan bombed the U.S., it really opened Hana’s eyes to how cruel the world can be, especially since it was her homeland. What this event also did was flip the definition of America to Hana and Taro. They always thought of America as a safe place to be themselves and a fresh new start to form their lives but now they were taking away the Japanese-American rights one by one. While in the Japanese concentration camps, tragedy struck Hana when she didn’t think life could get any worse. "'There was an accident, Mrs.Takeda,' the director said, ' your husband was shot by one of the guards. He was walking near the barbed wire fence and the soldier thought he was trying to escape," (p.211 Uchida). Hana was furious at the unreasonable and awful death of her husband but rethought her relationship with Taro. She forgot all the little things that bothered her and focused on their

great life together and wonderful daughter so she could forgive herself, emotionally. Sometimes the political and more physical conflicts seemed bigger in size than emotional but had a little less meaning.
Thousands of people were placed in tragic situations where their own country turned on them and gave them terrible living conditions so it's inspiring to read about how they never gave up hope even with their own personal problems at hand. This attitude which so many people achieved is amazing and crazy that people can feel this way. It’s enlightening to think about how people care more about the relationships they’re in, like spouses and family, than the physical situation they’re in. More of the world should have this approach on life without a force like war. There are so many different ways life can go wrong so if people think the best of the physical conflicts, the world would be a more positive place.