In this week's readings, the setting has moved from Busan, Korea, to Osaka, Japan. This transition has forced Sunja into a new life trajectory and altered the ways she thinks about herself, her relationship with others, and her beliefs about society.
While not without its struggles, Sunja's experiences in Busan were mostly stable and secure. Her work was valued, she enjoyed being close to nature, and was close to her mother. In Osaka, all of this changed, which increased Sunja's loneliness, stress, confusion. However, Sunja also grew more resilient, confident, and business-minded in Osaka. Being cut from her familiar hometown and influences, she is able to find the skills to barter and grow her own kimchi business. In a way, life in Osaka opens Sunja's eyes to what she is possible of.
The Osaka setting also influences Sunja's relationship with others. She changes from being a dependent to having a family that in part depends on her. This alters her relations to Isak, Yoseb, Kyunghee, because she is able to contribute to their welfar, causing her voice and ideas to matter more. She is also able to feel deep love for her sons which allows her to more easily distract herself from Hansu.
Finally, moving to Osaka impacted the way Sunja thinks about society. She recognized the extreme poverty and discrimination against Koreans when in Busan, yet these are heightened and affect Sunja more personally when in Osaka. She is amazed by the way Koreans are treated in the "ghetto", as well as the cruelty she faces from other market vendors. It seems like living in Osaka is teaching Sunja that the world is a much more horrible place than she realized in her childhood, and that all that matters is the survival of her family.
Hi Heather, I appreciate the comment on how secure Sunja's life actually was in Korea. They were lower class, and as a reader, I assumed Sunja's quality of life was poor and she was unhappy. Looking back, Sunja's life was very secure, especially before Hoonie died. Even though the passages leading up to the move were hyping up Osaka, your observations hold true in that Osaka is showing Sunja how evil the world can be in a way that Busan never could.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see how the change in setting has affected Sunja's character and perspective on life. It's true that sometimes a change in environment can be difficult, but it can also bring out unexpected strengths and resilience. The discrimination and cruelty Sunja faces in Osaka also highlight the harsh realities of society and how it can affect individuals in different ways. It will be interesting to see how Sunja continues to adapt and grow as the story progresses.
ReplyDeleteHey Heather, I agree that while Sunja had plenty of struggles while living in Korea, she lived in a childhood bubble. As freshman in college, many of us are beginning to understand the ways of the world if we haven't already. Being a child shields often shields you from horrible things that occur. I also agree that while a change in environment can be extremely isolating, it is necessary in order to become a more independent and confident individual.
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