Obasan Chapters 1-13: Hamburger Paragraph 2

“There is a silence that cannot speak. There is a silence that will not speak.” (Kogawa Prologue).  Silence is a foundation of the novel Obasan, shielding characters from their own emotions.The silence is both physical and emotional.  Naomi hides from her past by repressing the feelings and memories she has within herself. Her emotions appear to be opaque to both the reader and herself. Her silence originates from her childhood trauma, as well as encouragement from relatives to remain quiet. She struggles to accept the events which shaped and destroyed her life. Naomi seems torn between her interest in the past and her idea that remembering the past will harm her. She slowly comes to terms with the past, gradually revealing what happened.

Obasan Chapters 1-13: Hamburger Paragraph 1

Aunt Emily is the lively spark that turns the small flame into a burning fire. She is the voice, while the others are the silence, insisting that “We have to deal with all this while we remember it. If we don’t we’ll pass our anger down in our genes. It’s the children who’ll suffer,” (Kogawa 38) She is completely at ease discussing and remembering the past, always protesting the cruelty of the treatment they endured. She can be blunt at times, sometimes having a difficult time realizing the challenge it is for her family to recall the past. However, it is clear she loves her family and is constantly trying to get them to stand up for themselves.

Obasan Chapters 1-13: Character Sketch

Character Sketch: Aunt Emily

Opinions, Actions and Motives
- Energetic
- Strong-willed
- Comfortable voicing opinion → “Talking to Aunt Emily was quite like a minefield, I never knew when she would explode” (Kogawa 36)
- "Wherever the words "Japanese race" appeared, Aunt Emily had crossed them out and written "Canadian citizen"." (Kogawa 34)
- Wants to accept and understand past → contrast to Naomi and Obasan
- “She’s one of the world’s white blood cells, rushing from trouble spot to trouble spot” (Kogawa 35)
- “For her, injustice done to us in the past was still a live issue” (Kogawa 35)

The Taming of the Shrew: Blog Post 1: Literature Web

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The relationship between Kate and Petruchio is very forceful, as both characters seem to be pushing each other emotionally, verbally, and sometimes, physically. ‘Petruchio: What with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come again. Good Kate, I am a gentleman– Kate: That I’ll try. She strikes him.’ (Act 2 Scene 1 Line 215). Petruchio then tricks Baptista into thinking Kate and he are madly in love, and makes plans for their upcoming wedding, despite a lack of Kate’s agreement on the matter. Soon, Petruchio’s demeanor seems to take a turn for the worse, as he becomes unpleasant to everyone around him, including Kate, in contrast to his earlier doting behavior towards her. This is an example of dramatic irony, as the audience is aware of his deeper intentions to “curb her mad and headstrong humour.” (Act 4 Scene 1 Line 191)

The Taming of the Shrew: Blog Post 1: Hamburger Paragraph 2

The Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare is composed of a play within a play. The opening Induction scenes introduce Sly, a drunken commoner, and Lord, a nobleman who plays a cruel trick on Sly. The play within the play occurs at the start of Act 1, presenting the story of Kate and Petruchio, and Bianca and her many suitors, each vying for her love. The characters are dynamic and richly built, with many of them in disguise as another of the characters. Each disguised character brings more confusion into an already topsy-turvy story; however, the lighthearted comical tone is maintained throughout the play. 

The Taming of the Shrew: Blog Post 1: Hamburger Paragraph 1

The jealousy that Kate suffers is a result of her relationship with Bianca, and their interaction both with each other and with those around them. From the moment Kate is introduced to the audience with Bianca and Baptista, it is evident that she is always second in her father’s affections. Bianca is the apple of her father’s eye, the golden angel he always wanted. This sparks Kate’s jealousy, provoking her to feel the need for revenge, as shown in Act 2 Scene 1: “Talk not to me! I will go sit and weep / Til I can occasion of revenge.” The jealousy felt by Kate is a key part of the storyline, creating emotional tension throughout the play.