Evacuation+Order+No.+19

In Julie Otsuka short story “Evacuation No. 19” the author presents a narrative set in the spring of 1942 in Berkeley, California. The main character is a Japanese women named Mrs. Hayashi who has recently, on her way to Lundy’s Hardware, found out all Japanese families were expected to gather at the bus station the next morning to be relocated. The women carries on with her daily chores and once she arrives home finds it difficult to pack her belongings. She contemplates what things to take or not. The women later kills the chicken to feed her daughter and son when they arrive from school. Otsuka provides a surprising twist when the main character kills the family dog, White Dog, and buries it under a tree. She cannot give it away and she rather kill him then leave him behind to starve alone. After the kids have arrived from school Mrs. Hayashi is in a distressed mood. She feeds her children and orders her daughter to continue her piano lesson for the day. The daughter’s character is very lively and energetic, but her somber emotion starts to come upon her when she plays a song that reminds her of her father. Mr. Hayashi is somewhere in Texas relocated from his family by law. The younger boy’s character is more settle and innocent. They do not know what is going on. The daughter frequently asks her mother if she looks different because people at school stare. Mrs. Hayashi becomes concerned when her daughter asks her that question and immediately demonstrates that she has perfect teeth, well seeing eyes, and healthy shoulders. The author is able to create a sense of protection between mother and daughter. The author also demonstrates the struggles of Japanese mothers during the hardship of relocating during World War II. Later that night Mrs. Hayashi sets free the macaw her daughter loves so much. She drinks her sorrows away with home-made red wine and starts to speak to her husband in the dark, silent house. She breaks down after a long day of staying strong for her kids. She then walks upstairs to bed and cuddles with her son while she waits for the morning to arrive. The morning where they must all leave without fuss.
 * Summary **

Money, loneliness, hot weather, secrets, love
 * Topics **

The short story "Evacuation No. 19" by Julie Otsuka presents the background of a Japanese family who is being forced to relocate from Berkeley, California in 1942. The women is alone with her children since her husband was taken by officials to somewhere in Texas. The women has just discovered she and her kids will also have to relocate. Throughout the whole story the woman remains in complete control. She has the power to do anything. In the story the author states, " The woman picked up the large shovel that was leaning against the trunk of the tree. She lifted it high in the air with both hands and brought the blade down swiftly on his head" (McMahan 383). The woman has the power to kill White Dog and this is because her power is influenced by the well-being of her family. The well-being of her family is for her kids to not suffer. Under the circumstances their ethnicity is placed in society the woman's only concern is for her children to believe they are not different whether their characteristic image says otherwise.
 * Evaluation **

During World War II people who were of Japanese descent were heavily looked down upon since Japan was the one to bomb Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This affected individuals and families who initially have never meant any harm to American citizens; nonetheless, they were spoken against. In the story the author reflects these issues with a conversation between the woman and her daughter, "Is there anything wrong with my face?" she asked "Why?" said the woman "People were starring." (McMahan 384-285). The fact that a little girl has to ask her mother if there is something wrong with her face demonstrates the social impact on the young girl. Even though her mother has kept secrets from her children of what actually is occurring, the daughter is still able to pick up senses from her peers of discrimination used upon her without her knowing why.

The woman in the story hold the strongest character role because she is head of her household. The fact that her husband has been gone for awhile and now she and her kids are being forced to relocate puts an overwhelming weight on her shoulders. She has to be able to remain stable and strong for the bell-being of her family. With her courages strength also comes loneliness. The author states,"The woman stood alone in the kitchen, washing her hands---and took out a bottle of plum wine from beneath the sink. She sat down on the floor and put the bottle to her lips. She put down the bottle and waited for the laughter to stop but it would not," (McMahan 386-387). The woman has finally released herself in the consumption of alcohol which aides with all the sorrows she is feeling. Her loneliness has led her to break down and her constant laughter signifies her crave for joy. The political issues against her culture and persona has taken a toll on her spirit as well as her family. Individuals who are interested in the affects of Japanese families in the United States during World War II would enjoy Julie Otsuka story of "Evacuation No. 19". Personally recommend to read this short story.


 * Works Cited**

McMahan, Elizabeth, and Susan Day. "Evacuation No. 19." //Literature and the Writing Process//. 10th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1996. 383-387. Print.

Resources
__Database article__: [|Julie Otsuka Interview]

In Sou'wester interview with Julie Otsuka one is able to grab an insight on her book, Emperor Was Divine. Her book follows a series of short stories or vignettes. One of the stories is Evacuation Order No. 19. In her interview she mentions her notion for the evacuation order posted on the wall of the library to be a moment of exploded context to avoid working in a linear form. Otsuka also explains her methods of writing for example, to be able to write she must feel emotionally connected with her material. She illustrates her focus setting is in her neighborhood cafe, which brings a sense of calmness that helps her deeply engage in her writing. Her technique to not create individual characters is influenced by Jeffrey Eugenides as well as some of Hemingway's short stories. What benefits from this article is that Julie Otsuka really opens up about her writing style as well as explanations from previous works she's written. She states: "After I wrote "Train" I realized that this story, together with the story about the mother, could be the beginnings of a novel... In an earlier version of the first chapter the mother had a name. I changed that because I realized it would be more effective not to give the characters any names" (2007). This helps grasp a deeper sense of why she wrote Evacuation Order No. 19 and what contributed to the tone as well as the structure.

**Works Cited**
"An interview with writer Julie Otsuka." //Sou'wester // 35.2 (2007): 44+. //Literature Resource Center //. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.

__Internet article__: [|When the Emperor was Divine]

In this article Asia Society speaks with Julie Otsuka about her novel, "When the Emperor was Divine". This article is intricate in that Otsuka reflects her own family's internment with the writing of her novel. She discussing that during the war her family was very silent and she did not know much of what was occurring. This is the influence for the approach she took in how the tone was for her novel. She describes her novel to be quiet. She wanted to tell the story in a whisper so her readers could lean in to hear. This also contributes towards why she leaves her characters nameless. Otsuka feels that her novel represents the Japanese community as a whole. It is everyone's story combined, not just hers. The article provides insight into Otsuka's perspective on recent issues like 9/11 and how investigation upon all muslims or arabs are being conducted and how its similar to what happened to the Japanese people during World War II. The source is credible due tot he website being a .org site. The style is in interview form, which involves are sorts of audiences interested,specifically in the author or her book.

**Works Cited**
Yoon, Cindy. "'When the Emperor Was Divine'... and When Japanese Americans Were Rounded Up." //Asia Society//. 1 Jan. 2015. Web. 9 Apr. 2015.