Identity and Change in Conflict
Both "Kamikaze" and "Emigree" showcase individuals whose identities are shaped by conflict and societal expectations. In "Kamikaze," we meet a Japanese pilot during World War II who was expected to complete a suicide mission—"a one-way journey into history." His identity has been predetermined, but he ultimately chooses to change his fate.
Similarly, in "Emigree," a female emigrant faces a society that tries to control her identity. When she states "my child's vocabulary may now be a lie, banned by the state," we see evidence of censorship attempting to rewrite who she is. Yet she resists, declaring she "can't get it off my tongue" and that her city "takes me dancing through the city of walls"—with dancing symbolising freedom and defiance.
The historical contexts create powerful backdrops in both poems. "Kamikaze" contains subtle references to WWII, like "little fishing boats strung out like bunting"—where bunting suggests victory celebrations after Japan's defeat. "Emigree" describes a homeland "sick with tyrants" and "at war," possibly referencing Eastern Europe under Soviet communist control during the Cold War.
Think deeper: Notice how both poets never explicitly name the conflicts they reference, instead using imagery and suggestion. Why might they choose this approach rather than being specific?
