The Orphan Master's Son By Adam Johnson

2255 Words5 Pages

North Korean society relies heavily on a hierarchical system, and without this system in place, there would be no overarching state power or control over the people. But because this control exists, it creates an issue of separating people depending on their rank in society. The main character Jun Do, a tunnel soldier, is forced to join the military and go on missions because he came from an orphanage. Jun Do, a young man, consistently follows his commands. But because of the society’s hierarchy, Jun Do decides to follow orders which ends up leading him to go up in the hierarchy and state power of the novel. Adam Johnson displays how the lust for ascension in hierarchical standing can lead an individual to commit despicable acts in order to …show more content…

He was wearing Commander Ga’s uniform and was holding the box of photographs Mongnan had given him” (Johnson 209). Changing his identity allows him to get closer to Sun Moon, restating the importance of the tattoo. In part two, the text reads: “Who are you supposed to be? Sun Moon asked. I’m Commander Ga, he said. And I’m finally home” (Johnson 213). Sun Moon notices that he was not actually Commander Ga, which led to his determination in getting closer to her which shows how he is finding a meaning to his existence. Adam Johnson uses Commander Ga to show how state power plays a major role in affecting the lives of two individuals and their conflicts. The motif of rivalry helps support the fact that Commander Ga and Jun Do end up fighting for the bigger position in the hierarchy. Later in the novel, we see that Jun Do kills Commander Ga in order to steal his identity to be with Sun Moon. We then see Jun Do and Sun Moon's interaction: “Your husband attacked me this morning,” he

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