The Nature of Power

In the book, Obasan, Joy Kogawa uses imagery to convey different symbolic meanings in Naomi's life. Naomi goes through a journey in the novel to uncover the truth of her past. One of the many literary elements that the novel possesses is animal imagery that emphasizes meaning and contributes to the novel's theme. Several animals are mentioned throughout the novel to represent Naomi's emotions and her journey. Kogawa utilizes the several instances of animal imagery in her novel, Obasan, to reveal the nature of power, both physically and emotionally, and the victim of power—Naomi. Animals such as the chicks represent Naomi's helplessness and innocence as she lived in a world without her mother or knowledge of her history. The animals that Kogawa uses, kittens, chicks, and birds, are not strong enough against humans. They are not lions or tigers that can do harm upon other animals or human beings, therefore this makes them easily threatened and killed by power.

Throughout the novel, the animals are controlled by humans, the same way Naomi is controlled by the adults around her. Naomi relates to the animals and often dreams about them; for example, she dreams of an encounter with a couple who owns a beast. It is either a dog or a lion, Naomi does not know, but she knows that it "belongs to the man. Its obedience is phenomenal" (35). The word "phenomenal" signifies how much the man has control over his dog—so much that the creature turns out to be a robot. It has no feelings and is easily manipulated, it cannot run away or fight back—the same way Naomi is in the novel. An adult who frightens Naomi greatly with domination over her unlike anyone else is Old Man Gower. He forces himself on her, using his hands and words, both physical...

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...og is able to escape with its healed leg; the frog is able to move on from its past unlike Naomi.

Kogawa's strategy to use animals in her novel, Obasan, is for a reason, as well as what kinds of animals. The animals and Naomi live in an unjust world where power is used to dominate them, ends the animals' lives, and affects Naomi for a long period of time. Naomi goes through a journey but does not overcome the nature of power that has haunted her since childhood. She remains the victim of power even as she finds out the truth about her mother and goes back to the coulee at the end. By using the animals, Kogawa shows how complicated Naomi's journey is, how she is has to remain silent, she is excluded from her family, and carries the past with her even at thirty-six. Kogawa is sending the message that animals are just as fragile and easily threatened as humans.