The quote that I chose was in regards to shine bones being used by Koreans to make soup:
"[Kyunghee] 'May I please have shinbones and a bit of meat? I'm making soup... Seolleongtang'... [shopkeeper] 'And how do you make this soup?'... [Kyunghee] 'First you wash the bones very carefully in cold water. Then you boil the bones and throw the first batch of water out because it will have all the blood and dirt that you do not want in your broth. Then you boil it again with clean, cold water, then simmer it for a long, long time until broth is white like tofu, then you add daikon, chopped scallions, and salt. It's delicious and very good for your health." (Lee 125-126)
Since there was hardly enough money for the Korean to buy meat, they often cooked Seolleongtang in order to provide a healthy meal that doesn't cost as much. The Japanese, on the other hand, find this sort of soup gross. In part, this soup just adds to the Japanese's idea of Koreans being lower than themselves and disgusting. Although I am not sure why making soup out of bones is considered unappealing to the Japanese and wonder if it might just be another small excuse they have created to dislike Koreans.
In terms of what message I think Lee might be portraying on this interaction is to one, give the readers who do not know what Seolleongtang is a clearer mental picture of it, as well as, showcase that the Seolleongtang isn't something disgusting that the Japanese make it out to be. But, a proper meal. The Koreans aren't just lowly animals that eat bones, but the way in which Kyunghee describes the process of boiling the soup and taking out the dirty water showcases a sense of civility that the Japanese perhaps refuse to see because they keep trying to think of ways in which they are better than the Koreans.
What I do wonder though is how long this sort of soup was around/when was it invented? Had it always been a traditional meal or did they start eating it when things started to go south for Korea and Koreans?
Hey Monique! I love how you were able to really dissect and get so much out of this small interaction! After reading this, I was honestly interesting in trying some of the soup myself! I like what you said about Lee's message, showing that the Japanese may not want to see the Korean's different way of preparing cuisine as civilized, just because it is not what they are used to.
ReplyDeleteHi Monique! When I first read this interaction between those two characters I didn't notice how much significance it really had. I think it's really cool how you found a deeper meaning in something that seemed so surface level. I agree with you that this is definitely Lee's way of showing readers that the Japanese believe the Koreans to be lower than them in some way although they really aren't. I think the extra detail in explaining how the soup is made highlights how it is made with care and actually sounds really good. It makes the Japanese woman seem sort of unintelligent as well because Kyunghee describes it so nicely.
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