How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Halmoni, who is old and has a sleepy blanket face, says that a long time ago Apa was young like me and she could boss him around. But not anymore. Now, Halmoni can only shake her head when Apa comes home late stinking like the insides of the bottles that get left on the street. Her lips pinch tight, then she hides with Uhmma and me. (2.3-4)
It's hard not to be passive if you're old and frail like Halmoni. It's not like she can beat her son, who's physically (and maybe mentally) more powerful than she. Even though Halmoni can't go mano-a-mano against her son, we're thinking she's setting a pretty weak example for Uhmma and Young Ju. There have got to be better ways of dealing with an abusive son other than hiding, right?
Quote #2
Do you like it, Young Ju? Uhmma is smiling. Happy lots of teeth smile. Happy as the letter about Mi Gook. Happy at me. Even though Uhmma tells me I should always tell the truth, and Halmoni says God will be very angry if you lie, I want Uhmma to smile happy lots of teeth at me. Young Ju, do you like your curly hair? I look at the floor. Yes, I lie, quiet as snow. (5.59-61)
People like to think that passivity is genetic or racial or whatever, but this scene kind of shows you how simple the origins of passivity can be. It's about getting someone—in this case, Uhmma—to be happy with you.
Quote #3
Only now when I sit in the back seat I have to cover the parts that say a little mouse has been here because I am the only Mouse in the family. Everyone else has important signs like Tiger or Dragon. (8.2)
This is passage is like a big sign flashing character flaw for Young Ju—all this business about having a mouse as her Chinese astrological sign is really just another way of telling us that Young Ju is a shy, passive character. You should know this too though: there really isn't a mouse in Chinese astrology—the actual sign is a rat, which is worth keeping in mind as Young Ju develops as a character.