What do we learn about different aspects of prejudice in chapter seven of 'Snow Falling on Cedars' from the way Gutterson uses language?

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What do we learn about different aspects of prejudice in chapter seven of ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ from the way Gutterson uses language?

‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ is a book filled with different aspects of prejudice. Many of these different aspects come to the forefront during chapter seven. Gutterson makes them apparent utilising a variety oflinguistic techniques that I shall discuss in this essay.

        At the beginning of chapter seven, the Japanese sit in a segregated manner at the back of the courtroom – ‘No law compelled them to take only these rear seats’. The Japanese feel overtly prejudiced against and, although there is no written law ‘San Piedro required it of them without calling it a law’. This shows that there is a resentment of their race, for one reason or another that makes the Japanese feel uncomfortable with sitting with the rest of the community. This is a subtle prejudice which is echoed further on in the chapter by the not-so-subtle undertones in the community.

        One of the main types of prejudice present in chapter seven is the depersonalisation of the Japanese members of the community ‘Jap number 1, Jap number2, Jap number 3, Japan Charlie…’ The prejudiced members of San do not refer to the Japanese people by their real names so that their own discriminations can be justified. By not giving the Japanese their own identities, the prejudiced community can get away with abusing them without a conscience.

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       Gutterson lists the different amenities that the Japanese community have in their area of San Piedro - ‘an ice cream parlour, a tofu shop’. By placing a typically American shop – the ice cream parlour – next to a stereotypical Japanese shop in the list – a tofu shop – Gutterson manages to convey that the San Piedro islanders believe that Japanese have almost invaded American territory – they are not welcome. This is another aspect of San Piedro’s prejudice.

    San Piedro also makes it almost impossible for the Japanese to buy land – ...

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