In Japan Beyond Poem

Midterm- Question #3 The poem “In Japan Beyond” by Yone Noguchi, talks about the issue of immigration that goes on in America. It deals with the struggle all immigrants have when they leave their homeland to venture off to a new land in hopes for finding opportunity and a better lifestyle; which can summarize the situation for many other immigrants from other countries as well. In this case, it deals with a Japanese immigrant who has to deal with the unknown upon arriving to the Unites States. The line that states, “in the voice of a wind searching for the sun lost” (120) indicates the voice is that of the immigrant who is searching for the “sun” or the light of hope. It is a difficult road to get to America and with the help of the sun guiding
The author utilizes diction and personification to communicate the message across that it is difficult of a person of color to live comfortably in America. Diction such as “bitterness” and “sinks into my throat” (454) gives the audience a sense of despair and disgust and makes them feel a sense of sadness for these individuals. Those words is what the author feels everyday he walks out of his house. Either he is faced with such foul words where he then has to digest them into his body, or he is physically neglected in society “of terror” (454) where he is not allowed to do the same activities as others who are a different color to him. The word such as terror makes America be depicts as a frightening place to live, however the author personifies it as women, making the country be then seen as a motherly figure. Diction such as “she” and “her” helps to emphasize that America is a loving and nurturing country and not an evil one as citizens who live there see it. “She feeds me bread” indicates that the author and many other people of color, are dependent on America even when it continuously puts them down. These individuals understand that leaving to another county, they will not have the same opportunities they can have here, somewhere else. America gives “me strength erect against her hate” (454), pointing out that even though there are factors
The author uses diction to emphasize how women are seen in patriarchal society. For example, the word “sweet”(96) which is repeated various of times, refers to how men see women out in public sight as they crave them physically not even considering her has a human but simply as a treat for the eye. “Sweet tea” and “tray” (96) refers to women’s traditional roles in the Unites States, as they are used solely in the kitchen and home. Society does not see women as capable of performing anything else, they are meant to stay at home and care for the children and her husband’s needs, thus accentuating their restarted lives. “Incubus” alludes to the man as being the devil that has intercourse with women. When intercourse is performed, this action sucks the little power and dignity women have and leaves them vulnerable and weak right after. Male figures use their wives for their own pleasure and does not give her the needed respect she deserves. The men are those who are making women believe they are incapable and not appreciated enough in the country. The line that says, “Lease a sash hold” (96) indicates that women are just seen as property and not has individuals. Men compete to see who has a physically better looking wife, but lack the emotional attention she needs to make her happy.