Passage to Adulthood
In the novel, Farewell to Manzanar, by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, the author writes an autobiography about living in an internment camp during World War II, known as Manzanar. It was written in 1995 with the help of her husband and reflects on her past of growing up in a racial discriminated environment, because of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor. Jeanne becomes confused with the actions taking place towards her family and develops a fear toward other Asians because of her past Caucasian living environment. Jeanne's prejudice against herself during her Manzanar maturation, damages her future perspective and lifestyle on her passage to adulthood.The novel begins when Pearl Harbor is bombed. Jeanne is only seven and she doesn't understand. Her father is taken away because of suspicion, shortly thereafter
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.
Common topics in this essay:
Supreme Court,
Pearl Harbor,
Harbor Jeanne,
Life Manzanar,
Caucasian Manzanar,
Manzanar Jeanne,
Carnival Queen,
II Manzanar,
Wakatsuki Houston,
San Jose,
passage adulthood,
internment camp,
pearl harbor,
manzanar jeanne,
jeanne's family,
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Acceptance Essays
