Forging a Collective Self: Resistance and Identity Formation Through the "We" Voice in Julie Otsuka’s The Buddha in the Attic (2011)

Abstract

This dissertation explores the ways in which Otsuka utilizes the voice "we" to portray the experiences of Japanese picture brides in America. These women embark on an arduous boat journey to America to join their husbands whom they have only seen in photographs, carrying the hope of a better life full of opportunities.Through the collective narrator, Otsuka challenges racial oppression, stereotypes, and gives voice to a historically marginalized group. This study further explores how the "we" voice contributes to the creation of a shared identity among the picture brides that empowers them to confront racism and sexism, ultimately questioning the erasure of Japanese American experiences, including internment during WWII, from American historical narratives.