The Novel No No Boy by John Okada - Book Report/Review Example

The concept of identity, as revealed in “No No Boy,” by John Okada, is one that creates a set of boundaries from the character Ichiro. The main conflict is one that is presented with the concept of identity. Ichiro is one that is searching for his identity as Japanese; however, he also has a Japanese – American identity. This causes an internal conflict and set of boundaries and borders within Ichiro as a character. Okada uses the character as an example of not only the idea of internal borders with identity, but uses this as a reflection of the social and historical concepts of the boundaries between Japan and America. The character becomes a presentation toward the accepted thoughts and boundaries that developed across the globe in response to this. The conflict of identity in Ichiro is one that is presented from the beginning of the book. This shows the internal conflict as well as the lack of identity of the character. The author presents this to show that the border created is one that leaves Ichiro in a place where he is a stranger and doesn’t belong. Okada states, “Walking down the street that autumn morning with a small, black suitcase, he felt like an intruder in a world to which he had no claim” (Okada, 1). This specific statement relates to the hometown of Ichiro, which shows that there is an uneasiness and border in his ability to belong to his own home and identity. The boundary that is presented in this beginning statement is one that shows that the overall identity of Ichiro is one that is questioned and misunderstood. This is reflected by place and the thoughts of Ichiro and remains as a central concern throughout the book. As the story continues, the conflict that is a part of Ichiro continues to reflect his uneasiness in his own home as well as the concept of belonging. At one end, this is related to the idea of being Japanese. It is this initial identity that causes Ichiro to make the choices that he does, specifically by being a no no boy. When Ichiro refuses to go and fight in the war because of his ethnicity and culture, he is thrown in jail. When he gets out of jail, those in the Japanese community show a sense of respect toward him, specifically for standing up for his identity, culture and belief. In his family and in the Japanese community, Ichiro is looked at as he always has been which is belonging to the Japanese culture. However, Ichiro’s experience and the attitudes surrounding him create a boundary of understanding with the idea of culture and identity. The older friends and family that identify with Ichiro in this sense don’t have the same culture, identity or understanding of life that Ichiro has developed since he has been placed in jail. Even though there is not a sense of the Japanese identity with Ichiro, there is also not a sense of being Japanese – American. While Ichiro does not conform or believe that he is Japanese, he also doesn’t have a place in the American community. This specifically relates to him being a no – no boy. His decision to not fight in the war as an American creates a boundary between him and his contemporary friends who did go to fight. This creates a boundary that Ichiro continuously fights against, specifically as he meets soldiers. Eto is one example of several of how not claiming to be an American first is one that is considered a disgrace. Another example is when Ichiro goes back to the classroom and begins speaking with Professor Brown. When beginning the conversation, the professor assumes that he has been through the war, with the statement that “You fellows are as American as I am. And you’ve proved it” (56). The professor continues with the assumption that Ichiro bravely stood up for his nation and was patriotic and American with the war. Ichiro then states that he forefitted this life, which creates the internal conflict of identity toward being an American. While Ichiro doesn’t claim to be a Japanese, he also is separate from being a true American because of his choice not to go to war or follow the patriotic example of others. The conflict and the boundaries that Ichiro is facing are further conflicted with his relationship to Emi and the advice he is given by others. While he has created these boundaries of neither being American or Japanese, others are trying to convince him to be a certain way. The specific association with this is to assimilate to the American culture and to forget the other identity so Ichiro can fit into the country. Emi represents this most by giving Ichiro a speech about how to be patriotic and how to always think of singing the Star Spangled Banner when feeling the boundary of identity. This is followed by her believing that America can forgive him. However, the condition is that he changes his belief and his identity to assimilate into a culture (96). This creates a central conflict in Ichiro, as he doesn’t believe he can associate with the American culture because of the limitations placed on him mentally and through the actions taken from his opposition to the war. At the same time, Ichiro states that Emi’s way of thinking is one that “makes sense” (96) and that he should try. This conflict and the reactions that Ichiro has in these situations shows his conflict of identity between both sides and the boundaries that are associated with acting or being a certain way within a culture. As this internal conflict continues with the identity of Ichiro, are different ways that Okada presents the idea of boundaries that become internal. The boundaries that are created cause Ichiro to remove himself from different situations and to have a sense of loss through the story. This leads to the central point of the story, when Ichiro can remove the boundaries and definitions that are a part of his identity. Overcoming any definition of his identity as Japanese or as an American then allows him to move into a space that doesn’t belong to anyone. Ichiro recognizes by the end of the novel that his identity, as well as the borders that he has created in his mind, are neither Japanese nor American because of the choices he has made, as well as the things he has learned to believe. This is reflected in his friend Gary, as he foreshadows the answer to Ichiro’s main conflict of his past and present situation. “Old friends are now strangers. I’ve no one to talk to and no desire to talk, for I have nothing to say except what comes out of my paint tubes and brushes…. The picture I want is inside of me. I’m groping for it and it gives me peace and satisfaction” (Okada, 224). This particular scene is one that Ichiro becomes uncomfortable with because of his own lack of understanding and because of the boundaries that don’t allow him to have internal peace with his identity. More importantly, the situation with Gary is one that caused him to react in this way because of ethnic boundaries in the community. This shows the same conflict and sense of boundaries in identity with Gary. The central problems that are seen from the boundaries in Ichiro are also reflected with the boundaries that are a part of society at large. Okada uses the internal conflicts of Ichiro as a direct metaphor on how each individual in society has to face the questioning of identity and where they belong as a culture. There are direct presentations of this throughout the book, all which claim different identities and boundaries between cultures. For instance, at the beginning of the book, Okada writes, “Friggin niggers, he uttered savegly to himself and, from the same place deep down inside where tolerance for the Negroes and Jews and Mexicans and the Chinese and the too short and too fat and too ugly abided because he was Japanese and knew what it was like” (5-6). This is one of several examples of how the boundaries that are related to identity directly associate with society and the different cultures in which one associates with. The use of boundaries within society is further complicated with the character of Ichiro through the battle of assimilation. There is pressure for Ichiro to become American and patriotic, as well as the definition of remaining Japanese is one seen throughout society. The internal boundaries that Ichiro presents are also one that is a part of societal values and different cultures that come to America. The pressure to assimilate into the culture of America is one that continues to prevail from different cultures. This is combined with the expectation that other cultures will lose their identity when coming to the United States and while working with others in society. The complications of the American society and the conflict that this creates with most cultures are one that leads to division and boundaries of different societies within America. The central character of Ichiro as one who is not Japanese and not American is one that creates several boundaries with identity. Ichiro is one that can’t associate with either culture because of the surrounding pressures and characters, as well as from the actions and decisions that he has decided to take. This leads him to a place where he is unable to belong anywhere and in which he can’t associate with other identities. The main boundaries that are created internally with Ichiro then lead to the further complications of not belonging anywhere or assimilating to a certain culture. The representation of boundaries in identity is one that becomes a metaphor toward society and how culture and one’s personal identity becomes conflicted. The identity is one that is lost with either assimilation or which is unable to conform to the identity of a certain society. Works Cited 1. Okada, John. No – No Boy. Combined Asian American Resources Project: Seattle, 1976. Read More