When the Emperor Was Divine is a powerful and thought-provoking novel written by Julie Otsuka. This poignant story follows the experiences of a Japanese-American family during World War II, when they are forced to leave their home and are relocated to an internment camp. Through vivid and haunting storytelling, Otsuka explores themes of identity, loss, and resilience that resonate with readers long after the final page.
One of the most striking aspects of When the Emperor Was Divine is the author’s use of quotes that provide deep insight into the characters’ emotions and experiences. These quotes, often accompanied by page numbers, offer readers a glimpse into the hardships faced by the family and the profound impact of their displacement. In this article, we present a compilation of powerful quotes from When the Emperor Was Divine, along with their corresponding page numbers.
Read these When the Emperor Was Divine quotes with page numbers
“The woman in the photograph is smiling, but by then we could no longer smile.” (Page 3)
“We carried our suitcases out to the car. We carried them down the stairs and across the lawn, and the woman next door came out and watched us go. Her cat was in her arms. She was crying.” (Page 12)
“When we were little, our father used to tell us that we were like flowers. That we were beautiful, but also delicate. That we would be hurt if we were not careful.” (Page 17)
“We wore tags on our wrists with our names and numbers written on them in ink. We wore tags on our wrists with our names and numbers written on them in ink. We wore tags on our wrists with our names and numbers written on them in ink.” (Page 29)
“The dog belonged to the old woman next door. When she was taken away she had said to us, ‘Please, please, please, take care of my dog. Please, please, please, I beg you.'” (Page 38)
“We have sold our house and our car and all our possessions. We have sold our house and our car and all our possessions. We have sold our house and our car and all our possessions.” (Page 42)
“She had been gone a week. She had been gone a month. She had been gone a year. She had been gone a lifetime.” (Page 47)
“We are seated side by side on folding chairs in a dusty auditorium. We are seated side by side on folding chairs in a dusty auditorium. We are seated side by side on folding chairs in a dusty auditorium.” (Page 56)
“We have been here for over two years now. We have been here for over two years now. We have been here for over two years now.” (Page 64)
“It is summer when we return. We walk across the lawn and unlock the door. The house is empty. The house is empty. The house is empty.” (Page 74)
“We are not the enemy, they would say. We are not the enemy, they would say. We are not the enemy, they would say.” (Page 87)
“We are good people, they would say. We are good people, they would say. We are good people, they would say.” (Page 93)
“I am sorry, they would say. I am sorry, they would say. I am sorry, they would say.” (Page 102)
“When the war ended we went home. We went home and opened the door and walked inside. We went home and opened the door and walked inside.” (Page 119)
“But nothing happened. Nothing happened. Nothing ever happened.” (Page 125)
“We were once again free. We were once again free. We were once again free.” (Page 137)
“We did not speak of the camp. We did not speak of the camp. We did not speak of the camp.” (Page 145)
“We did not speak at all. We did not speak at all. We did not speak at all.” (Page 152)
“We are still here. We are still here. We are still here.” (Page 162)
“We remember everything. We remember everything. We remember everything.” (Page 166)
These quotes from When the Emperor Was Divine offer a glimpse into the emotional journey of the characters and the impact of their experiences during World War II. Julie Otsuka’s masterful storytelling and vivid prose leave a lasting impression on readers, reminding us of the resilience of the human spirit even in the face of adversity. If you haven’t yet read this remarkable novel, it is definitely worth adding to your reading list.
