Dictee

I have currently begun to read the novel Dictee by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha. As I began to read I began to realize that the novel might be as sad as the death of the author herself. The novel begins with a descriptive passage of a girl fighting to speak but coming short of words. She longs to speak yet “inside is the pain of speech the pain to say. Larger still. Greater is the pain not to say.” (Cha 3) This opening begs the question will this novel be about oppression and silence? Who is trying to speak and what is she trying to say?

As the novel progresses, we are introduced to Yu Guan Soon a Korean activist with the aim of reclaiming the rights of the Koreans. Despite the critiques that Guan Soon is a woman and too young to actually make a difference, she forms an activist group to speak out against Japanese aggression. “She is appointed messenger and she travels on foot to 40 towns, organizing the nation’s mass demonstration to be held on March 1, 1919.” (Cha 30) Guan Soon can be credited with organizing the largest rally against the Japanese occupation in Korea. As the only daughter, she proves not only to her family but to her nation that she can help make a difference in the fight against the Japanese occupation.

The description used to portray the Japanese as the enemy really allows the reader to feel the pain the Koreans must have felt towards the Japanese. The nation of Korea graciously allowed Japan to move troops in to set up military camps against Russia. No sooner, Japan began to take over every aspect of Korean life. They meddled in the government, broke promises to help establish Korea and even assassinated Korea’s Queen Min. Broken and lied to, Koreans like Guan began to fight back and Japan quickly became their enemy. “Japan has become the sign…To this enemy people.” (Cha 32)

So far this novel seems to be about women struggling to survive through hard times. Although this novel proves to be difficult to read, I think it will end with a good message and I am anxious to read on.