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Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter And Sweet Essay

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Author Lewis Carroll once said, “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” Throughout Jamie Ford’s novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, the reader can see that once the past is brought up, more conflict occurs. As the characters in the book interact with one another, each of them change in different ways. Ford creatively includes unique struggles throughout the family and friends surrounding Henry in order to show growth. This novel helps shape Henry’s character by exploring many conflicts that push Henry to face his problems and learn from them.
One of the main relationships in this novel is the one Henry has with his father. Growing up in Henry’s home, he was taught to obey his parents, especially his father, at all times. Henry was not allowed to speak Cantonese with his parents anymore because they wanted him to be as American as he could. This immediately created a barrier between him and his father, who only spoke …show more content…

From being with her in the kitchen at the elementary school to getting into the Black Elks club to watch Henry, his heart becomes soft for this girl. Keiko is Japanese and is bullied and treated accordingly. When President Roosevelt sent all the Japanese to internment camps, Henry realized how much he would losing if he let her go. He tried everything from trying to persuade her hide out with his aunt to wearing his “I am chinese” button. He even snuck in overnight to see her. “‘And what if you get caught?’ ‘That wouldn’t be so bad, would it? I’d get to stay here with you.’ Keiko smiled . . . Henry continued, ‘I’ll be waiting for you when this is over.’” (232) Henry had ever so hopefully wanted to wait for her, but once her letters stopped coming he started to lose that hope. Yes, Ethel came along and they got married, but it was Keiko who taught him to love and experience happiness. Even through these trials, Henry learned to

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