#5- is it the End, or has it just Started?

Hello folks, and believe it or not, this is the last post I am going to publish! I have finished reading Eyes of The Emperor and boy has it become one of my favorite books of all time. I forgot that this was an assignment, and really enjoyed the context and journeys the narrator takes me to. Reflecting upon the story, I really like the fact that it achieves a circle ending, yet in a way, there is no definite finish. The book ends in a very uplifting and “satisfying” end, as the narrator and his crew are finally able to join the war and head over to Europe where the real battles are fought. This was the whole point of the book. It was the goal to serve America through fighting against the Japanese and show the loyalty to this great land despite their skin color. There were many events that occurred in the last section of the book which really exemplified the power of racism, disrespect, and judgment. I feel that the majority of the book and it’s importance were squeezed into this last section. Would you like me to reminisce these situations with you?

            The first major event, would be where a skipper comes to the narrator’s island to resupply him and the crew. During the time that this is happening, a severe storm hits them and everything becomes chaotic. The skipper did not have a shred of care to risk coming to the shallow piers of the island and was just waiting. James, without hesitation hops into a small boat and rows out to take the supplies. After doing so, the skipper blatantly leaves without any further actions. Slowly James tried to row back to shore but has no strength to do so. This is when Slim jumps in the cold rainy waters and helps row the boat and James to safety. The narrator thinks and finds out that this was one of the bravest things he had ever seen. What were these courageous men doing, just stuck on this island and being dog bait? It made me realize, that these men were just as, maybe more honorable then the men fighting in real battles abroad. Which was ironic and kind of what I feel Salisbury was trying to convey. Pg. 166, “We were supposed to be fighting in this war. But here on this island, we had to look out for ourselves, because for sure nobody else was.” This quote really drives home the fact that just because of assumptions made due to them being Japs, they were struggling.

           

            Another event was when the narrator had to wear an attack suit and get attacked by the dogs for training. This hunk of clothing was described as making the narrator look like a “freak”. As the dogs surrounded the narrator in a circle, all eyes were glaring and digging into the him. I feel this scene was very monumental the message of the story and had me very emotional. The dogs surrounding and cutting off the narrator can be looked at as the rest of the world, especially other Americans who outcast and dislike the Japanese Americans. The narrator felt like a freak in all the suit, and that is how he feels against the ever growing distrust towards him just because he is Japanese. Sometimes, I too feel this way, as if it was me against the world.

           

            Upon the dogs attack, the victim was supposed to let them bite their sleeve area but nthing more. This symbolized that one, such as the narrator was tolerant enough to take some racism and negativity (bite sleeve) but when it goes too far, he has to stand up for himself and everyone like him (if anything more then arm is bitten, it is not allowed).

            I also feel that the dogs symbolized a lot. It was said that the dogs could be seemingly harmless and regular pets, but then change in one instant to a killer. The dogs most likely to me represent the white people and others who view the Japanese Americans. One moment the two are friendly and have no issues. But after one incident, the Pearl Harbor, a level of hostility can easily be felt.

           

            Another event that just blew my mind was when 2 fighter planes from the US military open fired onto the narrator and Shig. There was a black pig nearby which the two were trying to catch, but upon the planes arrivals they could only hide. Supposedly the pig was shot at for shooting practice, but the narrator doubts it.

           

            A couple times, there were references to Papa. How sometimes, the narrator would find himself behaving more and more like his father. The narrator was getting used to this idea of just doing whatever it took to do the job at hand. No matter how horrible the task, he knew he had no choice but to complete it. So if he had to, why resist? Just go with it. This outlook is very like Papa. This makes the narrator wonder if it is a good thing he is turning to be a bit like his father. He is reminded that he is here because of his father. He is here to prove his loyalty and to bring honor to the family for the cowardly sneak attack made on the Pearl Harbor. I feel that Salisbury included snippets regarding Papa to remind readers that he is the main reason why the narrator is where he is in the first place.

            There was a turning point in which Smith and the narrator were training, but when Kooch had attacked, there was no command to stop. The narrator suffered slight injuries and had enough of Smith’s ignorance and racism. As both fight, Kooch snaps at both the two and injures both. Smith is shocked that this Jap killing dog would hurt a white man. This really shut him up! At the climax of the story, high ranking Washington Generals had come to watch how effective the K-9 training was. One Jap, and 3 white men were supposed to go out and hide. The narrator was chosen, and if done correctly, Kooch would only sniff out and harm him. As it turned out, Kooch aimed at a white man and the program was a bust. There really was no “Jap Scent”. Through all this, the narrator gained one thing, especially from Smith. Respect. That is all he had ever really wanted.

            In the end, the narrator and crew head out overseas to Europe where the real battle ground lies. Although it is a brutal environment in which truckloads are dying, the narrator is happy to finaly be able to reunite with the rest of the American army and go out and show how loyal he really is. See, the ending satiated me, yet is a mystery because no one knows what will happen in the wars to come. The narrator could die, become a hero, no one knows. All in all, I really loved this book. <3