"The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford is a captivating coming-of-age story that follows the life of Henry Lee, a Chinese-American boy growing up in Seattle during World War II. Throughout the novel, Henry experiences profound personal growth and self-discovery as he navigates the complexities of racial tensions, family expectations, and first love. This essay will explore how four quotes from the book exemplify the transformative journey of Henry's coming of age. Paragraph 1: In the early stages of the novel, a young Henry grapples with his dual identity as an American-born Chinese. He states, "I didn't want to be different from anybody else. I wanted to be like everybody else. Look like them. Talk like them. But I was just a yankii – a yellow-faced boy with a strange accent." This quote captures Henry's desire to fit in and his struggle to reconcile his heritage with his longing for acceptance. It sets the stage for his coming-of-age journey, as he gradually learns to embrace his cultural roots while also embracing his individuality. …show more content…
Reflecting on their bond, Henry remarks, "We're all made up of good and bad parts, and I could see the good in Keiko. It was as plain as the jacket on my back." This quote reveals Henry's evolving understanding of human nature and challenges the racial stereotypes prevalent at the time. It demonstrates how his relationship with Keiko encourages him to look beyond surface appearances and appreciate the complexities of
In return, Henry is respectful when trying to appeal to his audience, formally acknowledging and complimenting “the very worthy gentleman” (line 3) at the convention. Henry repeats how important knowing “the whole truth” (line 32) is to him in lines 17, 25, and
He then spins around laughing and making silly comments, such as “I always wondered what it was like to have long pretty hair” (307). It was with these images of Henry that the reader was able to see his free spirit
Henry can connect with his men on an emotional level because he will not fight for someone who does not have the guts to fight for him. For example, the text states, “he which hath no stomach to this fight,/Let him depart” which is implying that Henry is calling out anyone that is a coward and that he will not fight alongside them. He also mentions them as a band of brothers rather than soldiers because they have not only shed blood for him but with him. Demonstrating how Henry does not see his soldiers as an army but as a brotherhood. In addition to having pathos in his speech, Henry also applies logos during his
In the introduction, Henry emphasizes that he is patriotic towards Britain. He claims he has a different view on how to resolve the problem. He attempts to bring a different viewpoint to the audience. He first references the Bible saying, "different men often see the same subject in different lights." By using the word "light", he shows that he is aligned with God's purpose.
He had walked away to just go think and another soldier had noticed. The other soldier came up to him and asked what was going on. Henry did not know what to say. This scene shows that even Henry was confused and upset at the fact that he could not be like everyone else and just be happy.
Connections and experiences greatly influence a person’s ultimate character. There is no question whether people’s involvement in others’ lives impacts their attitudes, values, and overall personality. The novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, written by Jamie Ford, displays an excellent example of outsiders’ impact on a person’s life through the main character, Henry. He is directly influenced by characters such as his Father, Keiko, and his son Marty. The characters listed offer him many contrasting experiences, but all are vital parts of the creation of his character.
Forgive the pretentious imagery, but this passion and affection towards the content of this speech is somehow unexaggerated. Patrick Henry spends no time sparing the audience from his criticisms. He prefaces his speech by recognizing the differences between his own mindset and his listeners, while stating that he will make no effort to censor his opinion in favor of attempting not to offend their sensibilities. “...I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.” This is an apt conditioning to the sarcastic and generally offensive tone Henry uses throughout the rest of the speech, and aims to justify insults to their character.
Henry tries to show the audience a different viewpoint, rather than discrediting their own. During his speech, Henry made biblical references such as “ Different men often see the same subject
His choice of language is effective at evoking emotion. Through rhetorical questions, Henry was able to emphasize his points, and grab the audience’s attention, creating an emotional effect on the listeners. “Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?” These statements prove the speaker’s argument and stir the audience’s emotions.
Frederic Henry's mind is contradictory to what most people label him as. The quote is saying that the words that people say you are or the words that do not have an absolute meaning do not have any impact on the individual, they are only used to label someone as "courageous" or "loyal" etc. The concrete words, that represent the people, the place, the time, and the definitive items in life is what really represents the individual and the situation as a whole. Abstract words do not tell you how something happened, when something happened, or even what happened, they are merely opinions of the narrator about the person that was in the event. In life today, the opinions of the people surrounding you have started to mean more than the specifics of a situation.
Jamie Ford’s novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, displays the lasting effects of the less mentioned details of WWII. Executive Orders 9102 and 9066 altered the lives of many loyal citizens, especially people of Japanese descent and those near to them. Countless people, like the Okabes, lost their homes and belongings as they were unfairly sent away to internment camps. Numerous of their belongings remain unclaimed in places like the Panama Hotel in Seattle as people attempt to forget their inhumane treatment during this time. Many residents of the United States, such as Mr. Lee, unfortunately agreed with this treatment.
The author Jamie Ford develops the theme that race does not define one’s nationality during World War II, though the novel and shows how standing up for oneself can affect one’s character. This concept is developed in Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet when the main character, Henry, and his friend Keiko go to a department store when Henry gets bullied by people that go to his school, and when he walks out on his father. Henry and Keiko are connected through their memories. One, was when they venture off to a large department store in Downtown Seattle in search for an Oscar Holden record.
He gives credit to their power as coming only from God and give the credit of raising up allies. Henry argues that the country should fight. In order to support his argument, he uses an appeal of vanity to point out he wants peace. Leading to this, Henry talks about working together and fight. Henry reveals his idea when he states, “ Peace, Peace”.
Henry can communicate with people, all kinds of people. Henry talks with determination from the start to all his different types of men. This speech is intended to give his men courage on saint crispin 's day. The day they would be going into war. Mainly because in this war they are outnumbered five to one.
Because of this, his father's pursuits are protecting his family from these people he believes are evil. Henry's father made him speak English, and Henry said, "It was 1942, and they were desperate for [me] to learn English. Which only made [me] more confused when [my] father pinned a button to [my] school shirt that read, “I am Chinese.” This shows Henry's father's pride and separation from the Japanese. Because of his school and his American life, Henry's pursuit is to be open, and he is friends with people that his father would not approve of.