How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Please, Uhmma, I say in my head. Please say it. Please. Please. Please. Uhmma takes away her hand. Blood drips down her chin. Her lips are broken grapes. She says with her eyes closed, It is not forever. (9.28-29)
Here's the scene: Apa wants Uhmma to stop sighing and worrying about moving out of his sister's house too early and into the crappy apartment they've just rented. In his words, the whole situation "is not forever." To get Uhmma to submit, Apa resorts to violently beating her, which is why Young Ju—who witnesses the scene—just wants Uhmma to submit and repeat Apa's words. Young Ju wants the violence to stop.
Quote #5
Apa starts to laugh. Joon Ho, who do you think you are? A fireman? Yes, I am, Joon says. He shakes his go-chu clear of the last drops and pulls up his shorts. Peach Fuzz scratches his head and leans forward to see if the mound of bubbles has disappeared. Joon stands with his hands on his hips like he is challenging the kid to do better. Joon orders Peach Fuzz around in Korean. Peach Fuzz nods as though he understands and the two of them build a mound of bubbles. (12.44-46)
First things first: go-chu is Korean for penis. Which means that here we basically have Joon Ho, Young Ju's little brother, shaking his penis free of pee out in the middle of the street. Why? Because boys can do things like that and nobody—especially proud fathers like Apa—really cares. In fact, this scene is just another way of saying that the boy who's willing to shake his penis out in public (literally) ends up being the more dominant boy. Notice how Peach Fuzz, Joon Ho's American friend, does whatever Joon tells him.
Quote #6
I forgot how to be a man, Joon says. A betraying tear slides down his face and Joon hurries to brush it off. What are you crying for? Joon shrugs. Wrong answer. Apa slams his hand across Joon's face. Joon's head jolts back. A howl escapes from his lips. Uhmma comes to the doorway and stands behind me. She calls out to Apa over my head, Yuhboh, that is enough. Apa turns toward her voice. Shut up, Apa says. Keep out of it. This is my son and he will not grow up weak… Apa continues, In this world, only the strong survive. Only the strong can make their future. If you cry and whine like a girl, who is going to listen to you? Who? If you talk like a man, fight like a man, you will get what you want in this world. Do you understand? Yes, Joon whispers. (16.69-84)
Okay—let's figure out the logic here. In order to get Joon to be strong like a man, Apa beats Joon into passive submission until Joon ends up whispering his replies. Hrm… See a problem here? How is Joon becoming a strong man when he's getting a (literal) first-hand lesson in passivity? How does Apa's logic work exactly?