Obasan Identity Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

I skimmed over the pages till I came across a statement underlined and circled in red: I am Canadian. The circle was drawn so hard the paper was torn. (7.69)

Naomi finds this phrase in Aunt Emily's journals. We knew that she was serious about this whole Canadian thing, but we didn't realize how emotional she must be about it. Why else would you circle the words so hard that you tore the paper?

Quote #5

"Milk and Momotaro?" I asked. "Culture clash?" "Not at all," she said. "Momotaro is a Canadian story. We're Canadian, aren't we? Everything a Canadian does is Canadian." (10.24)

If everything that a Canadian does is Canadian, is it possible for a Canadian to do something un-Canadian?

Quote #6

The girl with the long ringlets who sits in front of Stephen said to him, "All the Jap kids at school are going to be sent away and they're bad and you're a Jap." And so, Stephen tells me, am I. "Are we?" I ask Father. "No," Father says. "We're Canadian."(12.35)

Which question is Naomi's father answering? No, they are not bad? Or no, they are not Japanese? Does being Canadian mean that they're not bad? Does it mean that they're not Japanese? The way that he answers Naomi's question seems to be very ambiguous. Maybe he's saying that they're Japanese and Canadian, but they're not bad. What do you think?