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Waiting (1942)
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Belonging, Bigotry, and Identity
Silence vs. Communication
Family Dynamics and Inheritance
Memory
Love and Self-Sacrifice
Summary
Analysis
Henry and Keiko sit outside the Okabes’ building talking. Again, Henry promises to wait for Keiko, even if it is years. The two spend the whole day talking, and when evening comes, Henry walks with Keiko to the visitor’s center, holding her hand. Henry tells Keiko he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to visit her again, and she assures him he should “just wait, and write.” Henry and Keiko kiss and part. Henry says, “I love you,” but Keiko is too far away to hear. Nevertheless, “her mouth echoe[s] the same statement as her hand touche[s] her heart and point[s] at Henry.” Henry smiles and leaves the camp.
Finally, Henry verbalizes his love for Keiko. He seems to derive a great sense of peace from speaking his feelings aloud, even if Keiko can’t hear his words. This passage makes clear that the important thing for Henry was the exertion of trying to express himself; when he was first reunited with Keiko at Minidoka he didn’t come up with the perfect way to say “I love you.” Still, he made an effort, and this refusal to stay silent any longer was even more important than Henry actually finding the perfect “I love you” phrase.
Themes
