Properties of Thirst

This section’s major plot points significantly impact Sunny. Although she has been physically separated from Hace for months, she has remained faithful to their commitment to marry. Little indication is given as to the plausibility of her commitment, given Hace’s exile to Mexico after his association with the elephant’s death. Nonetheless, Sunny’s love for him is unwavering and appears to be the force that has kept her from succumbing to Schiff’s romantic overtures, subtle as they’ve been. Sunny is thus devastated when Hace ends the relationship, telling her that he’s marrying someone else. Because Hace is a childhood friend of both Sunny and Stryker, it’s likely that Sunny associates Hace with her late brother; losing Hace, then, is like losing a final link to Stryker. The exact details that lead to her injuries and unconsciousness are never fully revealed, but, importantly, the family initially fears that her injuries may be fatal. Sunny heals physically; however, the depression that sets in over Hace’s betrayal keeps her in bed for six weeks.

Cas, too, has suffered heartbreak in the past; though the text likewise leaves many gaps about it, she evidently fell in love with a man in Scandinavia who wronged her in some way, possibly by tricking her out of her wealth. That Cas doesn’t speak directly of the event (and the fact that the rest of the family never mentions it) reveals how devastating it was to her. As a result, Cas has apparently decided that love isn’t a part of her future. Nevertheless, Lyndon Finn’s arrival sparks her interest. Both are clearly entranced with each other, and Cas flirts with Lyndon in a way that reveals another side of her character. Importantly, too, it’s Cas who encourages Sunny to acknowledge Schiff’s romantic interest in her, revealing that Cas still believes in true romance and views Schiff’s interest objectively and evaluates it as genuine. The text doesn’t specify whether Sunny would have opened herself up to entering into a relationship with Schiff had Cas not urged her to do so, leaving this open to speculation, but the sequence of events suggests that Cas’s goading is instrumental. Sunny survives the physical injuries she sustains, but her heartbreak over Hace, as well as Cas’s devastation over Karl Tomas, reinforce the theme of Loss and Remembrance: Both relationships ended, and these endings are a significant loss for both women.

The timing of Sunny’s and Schiff’s beginning a romantic relationship is problematic given that Schiff will depart in 10 days for his new assignment overseas. Whether the relationship can endure across distance and time remains to be seen, adding another layer of conflict and suspense to the story. In addition, though Schiff expects to be sent to Europe, he’s instead assigned to travel to Japan. This calls into question whether being in close proximity with the enemy of the US will change Schiff’s views on the faultlessness of the Japanese people as the novel concludes. Although his remaining days with Sunny are limited, Schiff is happy. During his 10 days with her, he’s able to live in the moment and fully relish their time together. This suggests that their relationship, coming to fruition after so much time, has been worth the wait on his part, regardless of how long it will last.

This section further establishes Schiff’s, as well as Rocky and Cas’s, moral opposition to the detainment of Japanese Americans, further emphasizing Pursuit of the American Dream through their conviction that all citizens have the right to it. Rocky’s efforts, along with Lyndon, to protect the legal rights and possessions of those who have been detained, characterize him as a person of principles. His fiercely defending the rights he considers unassailable aligns with the relentless manner in which he has pursued legal action against the Los Angeles Department of Water. Rocky’s flaw, however, may be his refusal to admit to realistic obstacles to his goal. Cas is quick to point out that Rocky’s plans for the trust lack sufficient funds (as the lawyers at Manzanar are quick to point out too), but this reality doesn’t seem to deter Rocky (or Lyndon). Rocky’s unabashed pursuit of his goals based on his strong beliefs in basic rights is an admirable quality but may also strike some as foolhardy and even arrogant.