Passage to Adulthood essays

Passage to Adulthood essays 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. Jeannes 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 doesnt understand. Her father is taken away because of suspicion, shortly thereafter her family is moved through many interment camps by the government. Eventually they are moved to an internment camp, Manzanar. Her father returns with a cane, a sign of weakness. He doesnt need the cane but uses it as symbolism. Jeanne feels her father is dying. Her father demonstrates his uselessness through his cane, and carries it the rest of his life. Life at Manzanar begins to unfold and begins to seem like a world of its own. Jeannes maturation begins with her new aspect of life. She goes to a kind of pre-school, where she prepares to attend school on the outside. Just when the camp begins to settle and everyone becomes comfortable, the Supreme Court rules that the government cannot detain citizens against their will, thus releasing everyone. Most people decide not to leave, because they have created their n ew home, including Jeannes family. After the US attacks Japan with atom bombs, Jeannes family leaves. Jeanne returns to school carrying her prejudice feelings towards herself, that everyone is required to hate her. She cannot accept acceptance but yet yearns for it. As ...