In the novel Obasan, Kogawa uses Naomi's character development to convey that early life racism, internment and abandonment of beings loved ones can lead to feelings of confusion about their identity. The novel's narrator, Naomi, goes through a series of traumatic events as a child, including internment, sexual assault, and abandonment by her loved ones. Before being sent to Slocan (a ghost town) by the Canadian government, Naomi was attacked by her neighbor Old Man Gower, who repeatedly told her not to tell her mother. She later states that this incident, in particular, was the one that separated her from her mother. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Later in the novel, in a hospital in Slocan, Naomi brings up a racist term, the Yellow Peril. “Yellow” is a racist color metaphor for Japanese Canadians. Naomi says: “To be yellow in the Yellow Peril game is to be weak and small. The yolk should be the chicken. I'm not yellow. She associated the color yellow with weakness, showing how she believes that to be Japanese is to be weak. She also states that yellow chicks grow up to be white, Naomi also associates this thought with herself. She thinks that as she gets older, she will become white, which means that as she gets older, other people will recognize her as Canadian. Because of this belief, Naomi struggles with her identity as a whole. Notably, when she was a child, Naomi recognizes that she is culturally bilingual and that she has a dual identity, she declares: "Who is it that teaches me that in the language of the eyes a look is an invasion and a reproach ? Grandma Kato? Obasan? Uncle? Mother? Everyone grew up in Japan, speaks the same language; but Aunt Emily and father, born and raised in Canada, are visually bilingual. I too am learning the second language. We can deduce that it moves away from the languages ​​and cultural beliefs of Canada and Japan. However, when she reaches adulthood, she notices that she is still recognized as "Jap" because of her eyes. Even though Japanese culture doesn't seem to be a big part of his lifestyle or identity as an adult. Naomi looks Japanese (the most important factor are her eyes), acts Japanese and even eats Japanese food, but she states that she does not feel Japanese in her soul. She feels truly Canadian. "Japan". Due to the extreme racism and internment she faced as a child (and will face it into adulthood), she believes that her appearance and Japanese background define who she is.Keep in mind: this is just a sample.Get a personalized article now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayIn conclusion, Naomi's conflicted identity was shaped by abuse during the childhood, both sexual and political in nature..