In literature, symbolism refers to an object, character, figure, or color that is used to represent an idea or concept. Examples: the “peace sign” symbolizes peace; wedding rings symbolize commitment; in the novel “The Giver,” the uniforms that everyone wore symbolized conformity; and in the novel, “Tom Sawyer,” the cave that Tom and Becky were lost in symbolizes Tom’s growth into a mature person.
In Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, what do you think the Panama Hotel symbolizes for Henry?
Blog Post assigned: Tuesday, April 26. Due Thursday morning, April 28
I think the Panama Hotel symbolizes comfort and safety for Henry because it reminds him of Keiko since they used to walk there and that's where their record and some of Keiko's things are. Also because that's the place he wanted to meet Keiko if she got back from the camp in time. But I also think it also symbolizes sadness because he wanted to see Keiko before he goes to China, but if she's not out of the camp yet and she can't see him, then he doesn't want to see her again and he knows it's time to move on.
ReplyDeleteabgolfer
I belive that the Panama Hotel symbolizes Henry's dedication and devotion to Keiko. It symbolizes the bittersweet moments between Keiko and Henry. And lastly, It symbolizes Henry's love for Keiko. During this novel, there are many struggles in which Henry, Keiko and their families go through and deal with, and when everything around Henry and Keiko seemed to be falling to pieces, the Panama hotel was there through it all, standing broad and sturdy. I believe that the reason Henry's instinct told him to addd the Hotel into the deal with his father was because with Nihomachi and Japan town slowly withering away, what was going to be left for Keiko and her family when they came back..if they came back. I do not think Henry would have wanted to keep the Panama if it wasn't for Keiko, he did it for her. If someone loves someone enough to keep the symbol of their love, a building in this case, standing and living, it is coming from not only their heart, but deeper. i also think that The Panama Hotel symbolizes Henry's loyalty. The fact that Henry felt bad about leaving Keiko to go to China, after all of these years he promised to wait, which he did, he figured that if he was not going to be there if Keiko ever came home, the Hotel would be, standing proud and strong. I think that if Keiko does come home, and realizes that the only thing left in Nihomachi was the Panama Hotel, she would realize that was out of Henry's doing, out of his kindness and out of the love he felt for her. I certainly hope that when Keiko realizes that Henry is in a relationship, she thinks about the pain, the loneliness he must have felt waiting for her, and that the amount of time that he promised to wait, back then, was more than they had expected.
ReplyDeleteI hope that the Panama Hotel brings her a sense of comfort and even of Henry's presence. I hope it symbolizes their feelings for eachother, and what once was, true love.
lclorenzo5
I think that the Panama Hotel,to Henry, symbolizes his and Keiko's relationship and his promise to her. It is a memory they shared together and it was where all of Keiko's belongings were also. It is like the Panama Hotel has a little bit of Keiko in it and Henry can't imagine getting rid of that. I think that Henry will never want to give the Panama hotel up, he will always want Keiko to be with him.
ReplyDeleteLK Bertha98
I think the Panama Hotel symbolizes Keiko and Henry's relationship to Henry. I think it symbolizes this because the Panama Hotel had saved everything from when Keiko was still in Seattle like the record and Keiko's sketchbooks.
ReplyDeletelfguns7
In Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, this is what I think the Panama Hotel symbolizes for him. I think it symbolizes a closed museum because of all of the old Japanese belongings in there. I think it also symbolizes being a sort of survivor of a time where everyone is in trouble, because when all of the property was being bought after the Japanese were forcefully "evacuated", the Panama Hotel remained right where it was, with the Japanese possessions safe.
ReplyDeleters suprise838
I think The Panama Hotel symbolizes for Henry the friendship and relationship ship between him and Keiko.
ReplyDelete-knsplash
I beileve that the Panama Hotel symbolizes hope for Henry. I beileve it symbolizes hope for Henry because he hopes that Keiko will meet him at the Panama Hotel so he could finally see her again. I think Henry had to much hope in the Panama Hotel though. He expected to much to happen, as in seeing Keiko and seeing her being ok.
ReplyDeletetsace12
I believe that the Panama Hotel sort of symbolizes Henry's life in a way. He uses it to store Keiko's belongings for the time being, and he also discovers the lost Oscer Holden record in there. The Hotel has been there Henry's entire life and I believe the story would not have half of the excitement or hook on me if there was no Panama Hotel. After all, It's in the name of the book!
ReplyDeleteI think the Panama Hotel symbols for Henry is memories. Memories of the war, the family, and mostly Keiko. The record came from the hotel and always when he was older he wanted to search and see if Keiko had any belongings in there. Henry never wanted the hotel to be sold because he never wanted those memories to be let go, taken away from him. That was his life back then, and he wanted to remember all the special moments with Keiko, and to never ever give those up.
ReplyDeletemsGemini11
I think that Henry sees the Panama Hotel as a stronghold of sorts, a final reminder of Japantown, the last evidence of a past age. It appears to be the last proof of Japanese influence on Seattle culture, before it was removed after its founders and followers were removed. Culture, by definition, needs people to continue, and when the people leave, the culture follows. Its Japantown's last stand against American (For lack of a better word) culture. Also, its Henry's last solid proof of Keiko's existance. Other than a few letters and memories, that hotel is all Henry has left of her, even though Ethel covers up this feeling of proof...
ReplyDelete-mbjohann72
I think the Panama Hotel symbolizes Henry and Keiko's memories. Keiko's pictures are there and I think it just reminds Henry of her.
ReplyDeletelcpink30
I think the Panama Hotel symbolized safety to Henry. When Henry was younger he saw all of those Japanese items locked into the hotel and as an adult he got to go back and look through all the things. I think it symbolizes safety because all of those items where kept there untouched for many years and if it was my things that were stored away I would trust that they were safe.
ReplyDeleteahnighthawkk!
I think that in this book the Panama Hotel represents Henry and Keiko's times together in Nihonmachi. Henry wants to try to "get over" Keiko when he realizes that she isn't coming back, but in the same sense he wants to hold onto somthing that reminded him of her. If the Panama Hotel were to be bought by a new owner, Chaz's dad, it would be totaly changed and Henry would have lost somthing that was very important to him and held alot of memories. The Panama to Henry is like a reminder of the good times that he and Keiko had shared, the one last good reminder he had of her and if it was messed with so would his memories of her be.
ReplyDelete~C.H.Lafandala
I think the Panama Hotel symbolizes Keiko. Keiko's family stored their items in the basement, but what made it a symbol was that Keiko was a major part of his childhood. It seems to me that if Henry hadn't met Keiko, he would not be as mature and grown up as he is now.
ReplyDeletens r4ndomz
I think that the Panama Hotel symbolizes hope for the Japanese families and for Henry. I think it symbolizes hope for the Japanese families because all of their most treasured belongings are stored in the basement, in hopes that one day they will be able to return from the camp to retrieve them. I think it symbolizes hope for Henry because of him waiting outside the hotel in hopes to see Keiko before he goes to China to finish his schooling. I was very shocked (in a good way) at the end of the chapter "Meeting at the Panama" when Henry officially meets Ethel.
ReplyDelete-ampettyfer
In this story, a good portion of Henry's desisions are based on memories inflicted by the Panama Hotel. I think is both symbolises a physical memory of Keiko and an emotional land-mark. Without this, who knows where Henry would be? Still caught up on Keiko (never w/ Ethel?) or totally over her...
ReplyDeleterdRoxy4
I think that for Henry, the Panama Hotel symbolizes happier times from the past, great hope for the future, and a love that conquers all. I think this because he had many happy times in Japantown with Keiko, particularly surrounding the Panama Hotel. Keiko had stored her things in the hotel with the hopes of returning one day when the war was over to recollect her things, so that's the "great hopes for the future" portion. As for the love that conquers all... need I say it? ;)
ReplyDeleteI think that the Panama Hotel symbolizes Keiko for Herny and also reminds him of the memories they had together. While Keiko is away at camp, I think the hotel reminded Henry of Keiko and not to forget her.
ReplyDeletecichocothunder25
I think the Panama Hotel symbolizes a place where Henry can go to remember Kieko while she is away at "camp". I also think it is a place where he can always go back to, to remeber the past.
ReplyDeletejkricosauve