Essay Questions

How does Young Ju have a cultural struggle through the course of the novel?

In the beginning of the novel, Young Ju is excited to be able to move to America with her family, because she views it as a place of opportunity and very close to Heaven in perfection. After moving, she continues to feel that way, and wants to assimilate into the American culture with which she is being acquainted. However, her father Apa has other plan on his mind. He finds the friendship that Young Ju has struck with Amanda to be a threat to his Korean cultural identity, and takes revenge be seeking to harm his daughter an wife.

Apa's traditional Korean ideals continually harm Young Ju's development through the novel. He believes that men are inherently superior to women, so praises his son while dismissing his daughter, despite Young Ju's continued efforts to please him.

How does Apa's abuse stunt Young Ju's development?

Due to his obsessive drinking, Apa is often out of the house in the early years of Young Ju's life in Korea. After he is convinced by Uhmma to emigrate to the United States, he arguably becomes even more abusive. He does not embrace change and punishes Young Ju for this. When she tries to teach him about the things that she is learning in school, he shuns her, believing that girls are not capable of intelligence. Young Ju is impacted by his lack of support for her, making it challenging for her to continue doing the things she enjoys. Young Ju also has to go out with her friends secretly out of fear that Apa will find out and beat her.

How does the view by Young Ju's family vision of America differ from reality?

Once arriving in America, Young Ju's family struggles to adapt to the culture, especially in terms of language. Before arriving in the States, Uhmma felt that the country was practically Heaven, and a beacon of light and opportunity. Once they arrive, the family doesn't have the best quality of life, especially in terms of Apa's abuse. However, Young Ju and Uhmma still feel that they are successful, and believe that the American Dream is within reach.