I felt the theme of language is frequently mentioned. I like how Henry first perceives the English Language. He is naïve about the complexity of it just as he is the culture. He says, “I thought English would be simply a version of our Korean. Like another kind of coat you would wear. I didn’t know what a difference in language meant then” (Lee 233). It seems he is disappointed that speaking English is not as easy as changing coats. It is as if the coat represents a disguise. Maybe he thought that he could hide under this coat to be American, but it was not that easy. The coat can only cover so much, no matter how well his English becomes, and how well he accustoms to the culture. There will always be parts showing that label him as Korean. Henry shows that he is uncomfortable with the English language when he will not read to Mitt. He stated, “I feared I might handicap him, stunt the speech blooming in his brain, and that Lelia would provide the best example of how to speak” (Lee 239). Mitt talked to Henry’s father and this wasn’t a problem, but for some reason it would have been if Henry read to Mitt. I found Lelia’s conclusion as to how the word Gook came about it quite interesting. She said that “The villagers would be yelling, Mee-gook! Mee-gook! and so that’s what they were to the GIs, just gooks…”(Lee 242). It is humorous but unbelievable. I feel that Lelia may have done this to make Henry feel better about that word, even though he somehow feel good that there was a specific word for him. Henry pays an interesting visit to the Fermins. He cannot understand them but he feels a connection. He pointed out how Mrs. Fermin speaks. He said, “When you are too careful you can’t say anything. You can’t imagine the play of words in your head. You can’t hear them, and they all sound like they belong to somebody else”(Lee 257). It is interesting that he feels this way since Henry is usually very careful with his words. Maybe this is why people always see him as someone else, especially with his job. He is good at being other people, and people trusting him. Before his leaves, their house Mr. Fermin is very drunk in sadness. Lee states about Mr. Fermin, “And so he answers, trying hard, “Goodbye, Mr. Kwang.” It could be that he said this because he was so drunk, or it could mean that there is are similarities between Kwang and Henry. It could be because they are both Korean, or he made the connection because of their trusting and caring personalities. Henry seems to be seeking this Korean bond, and closeness. Henry says, “It is in these moments that I wish for John Kwang to start speaking the other tongue we know; somehow our English can’t touch what I want to say. I want to call the simple Korean back to him the way I once could when I was Peter’s age, our comely language of distance and bows, by which real secrets may be slowly courted, slowly unveiled”(Lee 275). It is ironic that distance and bows will bring him more secrets yet, the American way of interrogating the person persistently will not. Maybe it goes along with the saying “actions speak louder than words.”
