Busan and Osaka
The first 11 chapters of the novel Pachinko take place in Busan, Korea, and provide a glimpse into the life and struggles of a Korean family during the early 1900s. The setting in Busan is one of poverty, hardship, and oppression, where the characters face discrimination and social limitations due to their ethnic identity. Sunja, the protagonist of the novel, experiences these struggles firsthand as she navigates through the patriarchal society that values men over women and favors Japanese colonizers over Korean natives. The shift in setting to Osaka, Japan, marks a significant change in the trajectory of the novel and the experiences of the characters, especially for Sunja. Unlike Busan, Osaka is a vibrant and bustling city with opportunities for economic advancement and social mobility. Sunja's experiences in Osaka are a mixture of hope and disillusionment as she confronts the realities of living in a foreign land. She faces discrimination from the Japanese people who view Koreans as inferior and unwanted. Despite these challenges, Sunja finds support and friendship from fellow Koreans who have established a community in Osaka, and she begins to carve out a new life for herself and her family. In comparison, Busan represents a place of confinement and stagnation, where Sunja's options are limited by her gender and ethnicity, while Osaka represents a place of possibility and growth, where Sunja can pursue her dreams and aspirations. The contrast between the two settings highlights the impact of geography and politics on the lives of the characters and underscores the overarching themes of identity, belonging, and survival.
Hi Griffin, I agree that Osaka represents much more economic mobility compared to Busan. I also discussed the discrimination Sunja faced in Osaka in my blog post, but I did not note the obvious patriarchal and colonial influences that Min Jin Lee wrote about in Busan.
ReplyDeleteHi Griffin, I agree that Osaka is a much more busy and high-energy environment than the small town in Busan where we first meet Sunja. Something interesting about the social mobility aspect that I wonder is if, despite Osaka being a place of opportunity, her Korean identity will inhibit her from being able to "climb the ranks"?
ReplyDeleteHi Griffin, I also found that Osaka provides more opportunities, but will these opportunities apply to her, as she is Korean. Also, while Sunja's options were limited in Busan as she was a Korean woman, I would think the same would apply to her in Osaka, in fact the ethnic discrimination would probably be worse. We can already see the social customs as it pertains to women working still exist as well through Yoseb's thoughts on Sunja's business.
ReplyDeleteHey Griffin, I agree with your idea that the change of scenery represents a change in trajectory of the novel. The descriptions of each place show this and I agree with your analysis of each place. Thanks for sharing!
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