
Farewell to Manzanar is a memoir published in 1973 by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston is an American writer. Her writings are mostly focused on the ethnic diversity of the United States. She is best known for her autobiographical novel Farewell to Manzanar which details her own experiences as a Japanese American in World War II internment camps.
What happened in Chapter 9 of farewell to Manzanar?
In chapter 9 of Farewell to Manzanar, Jeanne describes the December Riot. This riot is the result of months of tensions and anger finally reaching an exploding point one year after the Pearl Harbor attack happened.
How can I track the themes in farewell to Manzanar?
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Farewell to Manzanar, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. In fact, Papa has made his cane himself in Fort Lincoln.
How does Wakatsuki portray Pearl Harbor in farewell to Manzanar?
In one of Farewell to Manzanar ’s most dramatic passages, Wakatsuki recounts the news of the Pearl Harbor attack not through direct narration but through an image. The striking picture of the entire fleet of departing boats stopping suddenly and silently on the horizon creates an immediate sense that something has gone wrong.
What happens to the waktsukis in Manzanar?
After months of deplorable living conditions, tensions are running high. The Waktsukis keep their heads down as the December Riots rage in Manzanar. After the beating of one detainee and the incarceration of another, the camp descends into martial law.

What happened in the end of Farewell to Manzanar?
The book ends with a final memory Jeanne has of her now-dead father and the day he bought the car to return them to Los Angeles. Even though he's a total brute and drunk, the way he drives—like a madman—actually inspires Jeanne with confidence to get past her fears of what life might be like outside of camp.
What event happened first in Farewell to Manzanar?
Though the book Farewell to Manzanar begins with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, this incident does not mark the beginning of Japanese Americans' mistreatment. Sadly, this had already been taking place for some time. To understand how things escalated so quickly during WWII, we have to understand this history.
What is the main conflict in Farewell to Manzanar?
The primary external conflict in the story is between the Japanese community in America and United States Government, who has declared war against Japan, and that all those with Japanese ancestry are eminent threats to the nation's security.
Why did Papa go to jail in Farewell to Manzanar?
According to a Santa Monica newspaper, Papa was arrested for allegedly delivering oil to Japanese submarines.
What happened to Papa in Farewell to Manzanar?
Papa, on the other hand, chose to leave his homeland to become a noncitizen in the United States, so in a sense, he belongs nowhere. He has virtually ceased to exist in Japan, where his family buried his memory nine years after his departure.
Why did Papa burn the Japanese flag?
Why did Papa burn the flag from Hiroshima and papers after Pearl Harbor? He wanted to burn any evidence that he was from Japan. What was Papa accused of when taken into custody? Papa was accused of delivering oil to Japanese submarines offshore.
What caused the riot in Manzanar?
The incident was triggered by the beating of Japanese American Citizens League leader Fred Tayama upon his return from a meeting in Salt Lake City and the arrest and detention of Harry Ueno for the beating.
Who was sent to internment camps?
Japanese internment camps were established during World War II by President Franklin D. Roosevelt through his Executive Order 9066. From 1942 to 1945, it was the policy of the U.S. government that people of Japanese descent, including U.S. citizens, would be incarcerated in isolated camps.
Who is the antagonist in Farewell to Manzanar?
There is not a single antagonist in Farewell to Manzanar, but rather a number of smaller antagonists and a larger, systemic conflict. The force against which the characters in the book struggle is the U.S. government and its internment camp program.
Why did Papa refer to himself as skipper?
Why did Papa refer to himself as Skipper? Because he wore a black skipper hat and liked to sail. It also implies you are important and a leader.
Why was Jeanne afraid on Terminal Island?
Jeanne's family moves to Terminal Island; Jeanne is scared of the island kids because they are Asian and rough; the US government moves Jeanne's family to the ghetto of Boyle Heights and then a few months later to Manzanar.
Why was Jeanne afraid of Oriental faces?
By birth, Jeanne is an American citizen of Japanese descent. Growing up, her family was isolated from other Asians in their predominantly Caucasian Ocean Park neighborhood, and Jeanne was afraid of 'Oriental' faces.
What happens in chapter one of Farewell to Manzanar?
The FBI interrogates many Japanese and begins searching Terminal Island for material that could be used for spying, such as short-wave radio antennae, flashlights, cameras, and even toy swords. The family learns that Papa has been taken into custody, but the sons are unable to find out where he has been taken.
What happened in Chapter 2 of Farewell to Manzanar?
Mama and Chizu go to work for the canneries that own the island, and the family takes up residence in a barracks alongside the other migrant workers. Jeanne feels uncomfortable around the rough youth who proudly call themselves yogore (“uncouth ones”) and pick on outsiders and people who do not speak their language.
When did Farewell to Manzanar take place?
Unfolding in three parts, this memoir recounts the Wakatsuki's experiences of living in Southern California during and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. From 1942 until 1945, the Wakatsukis were confined in Manzanar, an internment camp in Owens Valley, California.
What happens in Farewell to Manzanar Chapter 5?
Just before Jeanne's bout of sunstroke, Papa returns to Manzanar, and the whole family goes out to greet him. Woody's wife, Chizu, is absent because she has just given birth to a son, whom she has named George in honor of Papa's return. When the bus door opens, the first thing Jeanne sees is a cane.
How long was Papa in prison?from study.com
September. Papa arrives at Manzanar after spending nine months in North Dakota as a prisoner.
When did the Wakatsukis start living in Long Beach?from study.com
In December 1944, hope arrives. With the Supreme Court ruling in Ex Parte Endo, the internment camp system begins to wind down. WWII ends in August 1945, and by October the Wakatsukis are starting a new life in Long Beach, California.
What happened to Japanese in the 1910s?from study.com
1910s. Many Japanese took the opportunity to immigrate to America. However, they were still denied citizenship. In 1911, U.S. the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization upheld the 1870 act and refused Asians the opportunity to file for citizenship. The discrimination was compounded when California became the latest western state to pass laws restricting land ownership by Asians. The Alien Land Law of 1913 prevented aliens ineligible for citizenship from owning land or holding long-term leases.
What was the most decorated American unit in WWII?from study.com
January 2nd. The U.S. Military announces the formation of an all Japanese combat regiment, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The 442nd would become the most decorated American unit in WWII and, according to Jeanne, prove to America ''that these 110,000 people could be trusted.''
When was Farewell to Manzanar published?from study.com
With the publication of Farewell to Manzanar in 1973, Jeanne goes public with her story, and the lasting effects of Manzanar become evident to an international audience.
What executive order allowed the military to forcibly move Japanese Americans?from study.com
Executive Order 9066 allowed the military to forcibly move Japanese Americans, but without a long history of discrimination and racial tension, it might not have been such an easy decision for President Roosevelt.
What was the immigration act of 1924?from study.com
The Immigration Act of 1924, also known as The Johnson-Reed Act, limited immigration to the U.S. based on recognized nationalities. Since Asians were not recognized, they were unable to immigrate.
What chapter does Jeanne describe the December riot?
In chapter 9 of Farewell to Manzanar , Jeanne describes the December Riot. This riot is the result of months of tensions and anger finally reaching an exploding point one year after the Pearl Harbor attack happened.
What chapter is Farewell to Manzanar?
Farewell to Manzanar Chapter 9-10 Summary. Erica has taught college English writing and literature courses and has a master's degree in children's literature. Tensions and anger over the poor living conditions in the internment camps come to a head in chapters 9 and 10 of Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James Houston's 'Farewell to Manzanar'.
How long was Papa in prison?
Papa, like other men who were imprisoned at Fort Lincoln during World War II, will say almost nothing about his nine-month incarceration.
Why did Jeanne hesitate to share?
Jeanne tells us that this reluctance to share was because ''there was no greater disgrace'' for a Japanese man than the ''charge of disloyalty.''. The ''humiliation'' and ''emasculation'' Papa and the other men felt from this disgrace built up after they were released into the internment camps.
What chapter does Jeanne tell us about Kaz?
In chapter 10 , Jeanne takes a minute to tell us a story about her brother-in-law Kaz, who ''was foreman of a reservoir maintenance detail.''. The men in his group are the only people allowed outside of camp during the night of the riot.
What does Jeanne remember about the bells?
Jeanne says that she ''vividly'' remembers the sounds of the bells, which start ringing that night and don't stop until noon the next day. Between the bells and the noise caused by the ''jeeps patrolling up and down the streets,'' she has trouble falling asleep. She peeks out the window often, witnessing the searchlights sweeping the entire camp.
What does the sergeant think of Kaz's work group?
The sergeant seems to think Kaz's work group is a ''nest of saboteurs.''. Kaz tries to explain they're authorized to be here, but it doesn't look so good when the sergeant finds the ax handles. The sergeant is suspicious, and Kaz tells him to go check out his story.
How does Wakatsuki recount the Pearl Harbor attack?
In one of Farewell to Manzanar ’s most dramatic passages, Wakatsuki recounts the news of the Pearl Harbor attack not through direct narration but through an image. The striking picture of the entire fleet of departing boats stopping suddenly and silently on the horizon creates an immediate sense that something has gone wrong. With her description of the slow, silent return of the boats and the worried questions of the family members, Wakatsuki creates a dramatic tension that is released, at least partially, when the cannery worker relays the news of the attack. This kind of tension is called dramatic irony, a literary technique in which the audience knows something that the characters do not. Wakatsuki combines our knowledge of the events at Pearl Harbor with the fact that Mama and Chizu do not even know what Pearl Harbor is to underscore the Japanese Americans’ innocence and sense of bewilderment upon hearing of Japan’s attack on what they consider to be their home. The naïveté of this bewilderment is touching, and it is sad that a place they have never heard of will soon be the cause of their unhappiness.
How old was Jeanne Wakatsuki in 1941?
On Sunday, December 7, 1941 , seven-year-old Jeanne Wakatsuki watches from the Long Beach, California, wharf as a fleet of sardine boats prepares to leave the harbor. Her father, whom she calls “Papa,” yells more than the other men.
What does the FBI search for in Terminal Island?
The FBI interrogates many Japanese and begins searching Terminal Island for material that could be used for spying, such as short-wave radio antennae, flashlights, cameras, and even toy swords.
Why is Papa worried about the FBI?
He also burns any documents that might connect him with Japan. He is worried because he is a non-U.S. citizen with a fishing license, and the FBI has begun arresting such people as potential spies. The family goes to stay on Terminal Island with Woody, but two weeks later, two FBI men arrest Papa.
How old is Mama when she meets Papa?
Mama meets Papa at a wholesale market where her parents are selling produce and Papa is unloading vegetables; she is seventeen, and he is a dapper twenty-five-year-old. Mama’s parents dislike him because he lives a “fast” life and often borrows money. Mama sometimes says that Papa asked her to borrow money from Granny.
Why did Papa drop out of law school?
Jeanne doesn’t know why he dropped out, but she surmises that because he was “absurdly proud” he couldn’t stomach the enormous prejudice he’d be facing if he pursued a professional career. On the other hand, Papa has a pattern of starting projects and leaving them unfinished. That’s why he goes through so many jobs: he’s a lumberjack, dentist, and farmer.
How does Jeanne reconcile Papa's character flaws?
As an adult, Jeanne is able to reconcile Papa’s character flaws with his ability to support and inspire those around him. However, a long time will pass before she reaches this state of equanimity and overcomes her feelings that Papa has failed her. Being able to compassionately analyze Papa’s character shows her own development.
What chapter is Farewell to Manzanar?
Farewell to Manzanar: Chapter 6. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Farewell to Manzanar, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. In fact, Papa has made his cane himself in Fort Lincoln.
Why does Papa accept the job?
Papa accepts, in order to avoid working in the fields like other Asian immigrants. In Idaho he works as a valet, cook, chauffer, and handyman; his employer helps him get into the University of Idaho, and he hopes to get a law degree.
What is Papa's impetuous behavior as a young man?
Papa’s impetuous behavior as a young man—his obsession with his own pride and the disregard for practical concerns he shows by impulsively setting out to America—prefigure his behavior as an adult man, and his influence over Jeanne as a parent. Papa arrives in Honolulu in 1904.
Where did Papa make his cane?
In fact, Papa has made his cane himself in Fort Lincoln. He continues to use it even after his limp disappears—it becomes a dignifying accessory, and Jeanne calls it a “sad, homemade version” of the samurai swords his ancestors wielded in Japan. Understanding Papa’s Japanese heritage helps Jeanne understand “how Papa’s life could end ...
What is Kiyo's theme?
Active Themes. Kiyo spends a few weeks living with one of their married sisters; when he returns home he begs Papa ’s forgiveness, wanting “some order preserved in the world and in the family.”. Papa accepts the apology and Kiyo is reinstated in the barracks, but Jeanne feels that something has changed forever.
How does Jeanne explain Papa's behavior?
Jeanne, who has just turned eight, explains Papa ’s behavior by concluding that Papa thinks he is better than other people, and that the neighbors gossip about him because he’s brewing moonshine in the barracks. Jeanne and Mama hear some women in the latrine calling Papa an “ inu ”—a Japanese insult that means “dog.”
How does Kiyo imitate Woody?
On a smaller level, Kiyo is imitating Woody by taking on the adult role of protecting Mama and preserving family order. However, while Woody stepped into this role due to Papa’s absence, Kiyo does so due to Papa’s incapacity, a much more troubling development which emphasizes the changes taking place in the family, rather than its unity.
What does Jeanne feel like when she sees Papa's nose bleeding?
Papa’s nose starts bleeding, and Kiyo steps back in horror; Jeanne feels like he’s “bloodying the nose of God.”. He expects to be punished, but Papa looks at him with a combination of “outrage and admiration” and does nothing, so he runs out the door.
What does Papa threaten to do to Mama?
Papa threatens to kill Mama, and she tells him to “go ahead, if that will make you happy.”. He stands over her, brandishing his cane. Jeanne has witnessed many angry scenes since Papa’s return, but tonight it seems more serious than usual—Papa seems to really want to hurt Mama, and she seems willing to allow it.
What does the woman's suspicion show?
The women’s suspicion shows how prejudice can easily brew in times of fear, even within already marginalized communities. When Mama tells a drunken Papa what the women in the latrine had been saying, he starts yelling at her, accusing her of everything from not bringing enough food to lying about where she had been.
What chapter is goodbye to Manzanar?
Farewell to Manzanar: Chapter 8. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Farewell to Manzanar, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Now that Papa has returned, the family’s shack is almost overflowing—not so much due to lack of space but because of his “dark, bitter, brooding presence.”.
