Passage to Adulthood

Jeanne returns to school carrying her prejudice feelings towards herself, that everyone is required to hate her. Her father returns with a cane, a sign of weakness. As a reaction, she tries to fit in as much as possible. She goes to a kind of pre-school, where she prepares to attend school on the outside. her family is moved through many interment camps by the government. Her embarrassment comes from the fact that she is trying to become what she sees as an ideal American, and her parents are standing in her way. Her family moves to San Jose where she attends another school and is nominated for Carnival Queen. Her father demonstrates his uselessness through his cane, and carries it the rest of his life. She wins but doesn’t accept it mentally. She wanted it, but didn’t receive it, and yet receives it, and doesn’t want it; such a vicious cycle. Eventually they are moved to an internment camp, Manzanar. She wishes that they could understand her more. As Jeanne matures, she goes through a normal teenage rebellion against her parents. He doesn’t need the cane but uses it as symbolism.