Obasan | Joy Kogawa | A Review
Obasan by Joy Kogawa-A Review
“Obasan” by Joy Kogawa is a profoundly moving and beautifully written novel that explores the impact of the internment of Japanese-Canadians during World War II. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Naomi Nakane, Kogawa offers a poignant and deeply personal account of a dark chapter in Canadian history, shedding light on the injustices faced by Japanese-Canadians and the lasting effects of trauma and discrimination.
At the heart of the novel is the theme of identity and belonging. Naomi’s struggle to reconcile her Japanese heritage with her Canadian upbringing is poignantly portrayed as she reflects, “We are the silence. We are the observers. We are the listeners. We have never been allowed to speak.”
Kogawa’s prose is both lyrical and evocative, immersing readers in the emotional landscapes of the characters. Her descriptions of the internment experience are vivid and haunting, capturing the sense of loss and displacement felt by the Japanese-Canadian community. “The heavy pain inside is not the pain I feel now. It is the pain I felt back then,” Naomi recalls.
The novel delves into the intergenerational trauma experienced by the Japanese-Canadian community, as the effects of the internment reverberate through the years. Kogawa’s exploration of this theme is deeply introspective, reflecting on the burden of history carried by Naomi and her family. “No one can lay the ghosts of the past to rest,” she writes.
“Obasan” also examines the power of memory and the process of coming to terms with the past. Naomi’s journey of self-discovery and healing is beautifully depicted as she comes to understand, “I am my history. If I pretend otherwise, I will deceive myself.”
Through the character of Aunt Emily, Kogawa presents a voice of resilience and resistance. Aunt Emily’s determination to fight for justice and recognition serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice. “We have to open our mouths and speak,” she urges.
The novel’s exploration of silence as a coping mechanism and a form of resistance is poignant and thought-provoking. Naomi’s reflections on silence are deeply introspective, “The worst of it lies like a silence between us. A blackness that says nothing.”
In conclusion, “Obasan” by Joy Kogawa is a powerful and deeply affecting novel that confronts the dark history of Japanese-Canadians’ internment during World War II. Through beautifully crafted prose and a deeply empathetic narrative, Kogawa sheds light on the lasting effects of trauma and the importance of confronting the injustices of the past. This novel is a compelling and necessary read, offering a deeply human and compassionate perspective on a painful chapter in Canadian history. 0 0 0.
Obasan | Joy Kogawa | A Review
N.B. The article ‘Obasan | Joy Kogawa | A Review’ originally belongs to the book ‘Reviews of Selected Motivational Books‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Books of Literary Criticism by M. Menonimus:
- World Short Story Criticism
- World Poetry Criticism
- World Drama Criticism
- World Novel Criticism
- World Essay Criticism
- Indian English Poetry Criticism
- Indian English Poets and Poetry Chief Features
- Emily Dickinson’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Walt Whitman’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Critical Essays on English Poetry
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: Return of the Spirit-An Analytical Study
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: ‘Yawmiyyat Naib Fil Arayaf’-An Analytical Study
- Analytical Studies of Some Arabic Short Stories
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Pre-Islamic Period (500 AD-622 AD)
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Early Islamic Period (622 AD-661 AD)
- Reviews on William Shakespeare’s Works
- Reviews of Charles Dickens’ Works
- Reviews of John Milton’s Literary Works
- Reviews of Some Iconic Travelogues
- Shakespeare’s Sonnets-Critical Studies
- Analytical Studies of Selected Poems of Sarojini Naidu
- Analytical Studies of Selected Poems of Rabindranath Tagore
- Analytical Studies of Selected Indian English Poems
- Reviews of Selected Motivational Books …
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- The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
