Farewell to Manzanar: A True Story of Japanese American Experience During and After the World War II Internment

Content Warning: This section discusses the US imprisonment of Japanese Americans during WWII. It also references alcohol addiction, domestic abuse, and racism/xenophobia.

Fear of the unknown pervades most of the characters’ experiences. Much of the memoir takes place during wartime, with fear as a primary motivation for many of the decisions made by both individuals and institutions. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US government becomes anxious about the loyalty of Japanese Americans—who had never been fully accepted in American society anyway—which drives the decision to establish concentration camps. Similarly, the public perception of Asian immigrants during WWII is shrouded in fear and uncertainty, leading to the establishment of anti-Japanese social groups during the war.

In this environment, Japanese American communities are fearful as well. They fear what will happen to them after the US declares war on Japan. With the introduction of Executive Order 9066, the fear extends into what life will be like in the concentration camps. As the camps finally close, those inside fear what conditions will be like in the outside world—particularly with regard to societal acceptance—which causes many to prefer to stay inside the camps as long as possible.