When the Emperor Was Divine Study Guide

Biography of Julie Otsuka: Julie Otsuka is a distinguished Japanese American author born in Palo Alto, California, in 1962. She attended Yale University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1984, and later pursued a Master of Fine Arts at Columbia University, graduating in 1999. Otsuka's writing is celebrated for its poignant exploration of the Japanese American experience, particularly during World War II. Her debut novel, "When the Emperor Was Divine" (2002), earned widespread acclaim for its lyrical prose and historical depth. She followed up with "The Buddha in the Attic" (2011), which received the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. Otsuka's work often draws on her family's history and her cultural heritage, bringing to light stories of displacement, identity, and resilience.

Historical and Literary Context for "When the Emperor Was Divine": "When the Emperor Was Divine" is set against the backdrop of World War II and the internment of Japanese Americans following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. In response to growing wartime hysteria and racial prejudice, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 in February 1942, authorizing the forced relocation and incarceration of around 120,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were U.S. citizens. They were held in internment camps under harsh and unjust conditions, stripped of their civil liberties and property.

Otsuka's novel chronicles the experience of one Japanese American family from their initial uprooting in Berkeley, California, to their internment in a Utah camp, and their eventual return home. Through a shifting narrative perspective, Otsuka captures the emotional and psychological toll of the internment, emphasizing themes of loss, identity, and endurance.

Literarily, the novel is noted for its spare, evocative prose and its ability to convey deep emotion with restraint. Otsuka uses a minimalist style, reflecting the quiet suffering and resilience of her characters. The novel contributes to the broader body of Asian American literature by shedding light on a dark chapter in American history, fostering understanding and empathy through its intimate portrayal of personal and collective trauma.

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