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When Europeans first explored the area of what is now Seattle, they encountered members of many native people all of whom occasionally warred among themselves but were generally peaceful toward the newcomers. (britannica) "Canadian Englishmen up in arms about the border--but San Piedro Island generally lay clear of violence after that." (7) Here, Guterson is telling the reader about how not much violence happened in san piedro after the europeans arrived and describes the towns calm nature. -
“By either account, the original citizens of what is now Western Washington gained their identity by developing a way of life closely fitted to the resources of the maritime and river valley Northwest.” (historylink.org) "Larsen's Pharmacy, a dime-store-with-fountain owned by a woman in Seattle, a Puget Power office”(7) In this quote, Guterson is describing how the puget natives were on the land before them and used it as an opportunity to build. -
Simply stated, these laws prohibited land ownership by residents who were ineligible to citizenship. (depts.washington.org) “The law said they could not own land unless they became citizens; it also said they could not become citizens so long as they were Japanese” (40). Guterson describes how difficult it was for the japanese to own land since they were not citizens and yet were not allowed or was made very difficult for the japanese immigrants to become citizens. -
"The Government launched an aggressive propaganda campaign with clearly articulated goals and strategies to galvanize public support, and it recruited some of the nation's foremost intellectuals, artists, and filmmakers to wage the war on that front." (https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers-of-persuasion)
"It was all propaganda," added Ishmael. "They wanted us to be able to kill them with no remorse, to make them less than people."
In this quote Guterson uses -
“Just before 8 a.m. on that Sunday morning, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes descended on the base…more than 2,400 Americans died in the attack, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded.”(history.com) "A bombing raid. The Japanese air force has bombed everything. It is bad for us, terribly bad. There is nothing else on the radio. Everything is Pearl Harbor." (87) Guterson uses this quote to capture the fear and panic when everyone on the island hears about the attack. -
"They were then told when and where they should report for removal to an internment camp.” (britannica)
“An army truck took Fujiko and her five daughters to the Amity Harbor ferry dock at seven o'clock on Monday morning, where a soldier gave them tags for their suitcases and coats.” (106) Guterson says this in a manner which depicts the harsh environment in which the japanese had to abide by. They got to the dock at 7 in the morning and were given tags to separate their stuff. -
"During World War II, breakups between deployed troops and their sweethearts back home have followed enough of a pattern to earn a specialized moniker, the “Dear John” letter." (militarytimes.com)
"Dear Ishmael,
These things are very difficult to say--I can't think of anything more painful to me than
writing this letter to you."
In this quote Guterson uses emotion to show how heartbreaking this moment was for Ishmael while he was in war. -
"In the Battle of Tarawa, during World War II, the U.S. began its Central Pacific Campaign against Japan by seizing the Japanese-held island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll." (history.com)
"Later he lay on the deck of some ship, seven miles out to sea from Betio, one boy in the middle of rows and rows of wounded, and the boy on the litter to his left died from the shrapnel that had pierced his liver."
In this quote Guterson uses imagery so the audience can feel as if they are there in the setting. -
"The Battle of Okinawa was the last major battle of World War II, and one of the bloodiest." (History.com)
"Most people on San Piedro liked them. Carl, Art recalled, had served as a gunner on the U.S.S. Canton, which went down during the invasion of Okinawa."
Guterson uses dialogue in this quote to depict the trauma that Carl went through. -
"One hundred and seventy islanders turned out for Arthur's funeral, which was held on a warm, cloudless day in June at the San Piedro Memorial Cemetery. Masato Nagaishi, Ishmael recalled, had presented himself in the funeral's aftermath to offer condolences on behalf of the Japanese-American Citizens' League and the Japanese Community Center."
In this quote Guterson uses imagery to show how important this day was and to make sure that audience can really imagine how everything was.