Skip to main content

Hansu vs. Isak

I think Hansu is one of the more confusing and complex characters we've come across. He is simultaneously charming, manipulative, and ruthless—he seems to care about Sunja to some extent, but also won't go deep into the relationship. He preys on Sunja's vulnerability and becomes her lover, ultimately leading to the birth of her son. Despite his willingness to provide for Sunja and their son financially, Hansu is not willing to commit emotionally and geographically to being a family. He uses his wealth and influence to control those around him, including Sunja and her family. While Hansu's intentions may have been genuine at first, his actions reveal his true character, and it is clear that he is not trustworthy and can't fully care for Sunja.

In contrast, Isak is a kind and compassionate man who is guided by his faith but doesn't have the same financial sway and power that Hansu has. Isak is gentle and understanding, providing support and guidance to Sunja and her family when they need it most. Isak is a symbol of hope and genuine care that represents the possibility of a better life for Sunja and her children. I think he genuinely cares for Sunja and her family. Isak's actions are always motivated by a desire to do what is right, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness.

Comments

  1. Hi Noah, I agree that Hansu's actions truly reveal his character. It was very easy for wide-eyed Sunja to submit to anything he said at first, but after he told her about his wife, she seemed to change instantly. Hansu crushed Sunja's dreams of having a stable family, but isak was there to help her family.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Noah! I'm glad you talked about the more "charming" and deceitful side of Hansu as well. I think, for a lot of us, it is easy to see it from an outside perspective and see how creepy he appears, but it is important to think as Sunja and see how he might have this appealing facade at first. I wonder if after being with Isak, Sunja will begin to see more and more ways his charming-ness covered up his manipulative ways.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Antigone vs. Home Fire

What stood out to me at the beginning of Antigone was the parallel fight between Ismene vs. Antigone and Isma vs. Aneeka. Ismene—like Isma—took the logical stance of conservative protection, opting to sacrifice a proper burial of her already dead brother for the safety of the two living sisters. Both Ismene and Isma sacrifice a level of their integrity for the larger picture, knowing they would like to fulfill their religious obligation to bury their brother as they are supposed to. But at the same time, knowing that adherence to their beliefs would be detrimental to their lives. They both choose to look towards the future and what their—and Antigone/Aneeka's—lives could hold if they do the socially expected outcome of not properly burying their brother. They choose to avoid conflict in the name of safety.  Whereas both Antigone and Aneeks cannot continue their lives if they sacrifice their integrity to abide by social pressures. Both of their lives are so dependent on faith and fa...

Gender in Pachinko

 The female characters' intellect is more subtle and transactions: for example, bargaining at the pawnshop and market. Society does not allow women to express and pursue their education and intellect explicitly, but Lee does a good job of making it clear that—even though society disagrees—these women are incredibly intelligent and capable. Nonetheless, they are still disadvantaged by society because of their gender—Sunja gets pregnant out of wedlock and is pressured to leave her home and family in Korea in order to 1) marry someone, so she doesn't get judged, and 2) have someone to provide for her. A lot of the social pressures she faces are based on the gender expectations society has for her. She is not supposed to be/encouraged to be smart or to pursue an education, instead her social expectations are that of a mother. In contrast, men are revered for their intellect, wealth, and power. Hansu is rich and powerful, so we see him attempt to use his influence to control those a...

Final Project Update

My research for my final project has not really officially started, although I have started doing some brainstorming on potential topics that I would like to write about. At mid-quarter, it can be challenging to envision the final project, especially when have only been in class for a short time because of the quarter system. Also, we still have a book and a half to read, which will influence my research and help me develop new ideas. And seeing how other people start/plan to start their projects will help me navigate my own.  As for questions or struggles, at this stage, I am mostly worried about figuring out the focus or direction of my project. I have not yet chosen a platform to use, however, depending on the specific topic I choose, I really liked the interface of StoryMap. I think it portrayed the text and map better than Neatline. If I have a final topic that uses geography, I will definitely consider using StoryMap. Overall, I feel a little overwhelmed and unsure at this st...