Summary Of Obasan By Joy Kogawa

The government is an assertive body of power that cannot be taken down by the lower class. Aunt Emily tries to rebel against the government with letters and petitions, but her efforts mean nothing against the government. By believing that she can overcome the class struggle against the government, Aunt Emily lets her family down. By analysing ‘Obasan’, by Joy Kogawa, through the Marxist Lens, readers understand how Aunt Emily’s efforts to overcome oppression are ineffective, which displays the difference in political power between the government and its citizens. In Obasan, Joy Kogawa uses literary devices to represent how Aunt Emily’s attempts to rebel against the bourgeoisie fail since the government is unconcerned about the Japanese Canadian's health, and they view her

They realise that attempts at rebellion are useless, but Aunt Emily does not care. She continues to shine a light on old issues that most people do not want to relive, to get justice for people who do not desire justice. Japanese Canadians have experienced the extent of power that the bourgeoisie holds and know that trying to escape the class struggle will not end well for them. As the proletariat, Japanese Canadians have first-hand experience of the political power that the bourgeoisie holds. The government holds the authority and resources to seize property, enslave and relocate the Japanese Canadians whenever they want. Secondly, Kogawa uses Aunt Emily’s dignity to display how she believes she can overcome oppression to get her family to safety, but fails instead. When the government forces Japanese Canadians to move out, Aunt Emily “wrote asking for written assurance that I could continue negotiations with Slogan about going to Toronto./I was so excited and happy, I assumed that included Dad and Aya and the kids. The next day, Mrs. Booth said the permit was only for the Kato