In “Shu Yi,” Mr. James is the principal of Ava’s elementary school. The students nickname him “Jailhouse James” because he’s so strict. Yet, when Ava’s mum goes to Mr. James to tell him about students’ racist bullying of Shu Yi, Mr. James exhibits none of his usual strictness. He resents Ava’s mum’s accusation and claims that Shu Yi—and immigrants in general—need to toughen up and not expect everyone to make them feel comfortable. Ava’s mum sees Mr. James’s stubborn refusal to help Shu Yi as evidence of Mr. James’s own racism.
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Mr. James Character Timeline in Foreign Soil
The timeline below shows where the character Mr. James appears in Foreign Soil. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Shu Yi
In the present, the principal, Mr. James , knocks on the classroom door. The narrator (Ava) wonders if her grade-three teacher, Mr....
(full context)
...and excitedly runs toward her. Now, Ava’s mum suggests that she and Ava talk to Mr. James about what’s going on with Shu Yi. Annoyed, Ava says it’s not their problem if...
(full context)
At school the next morning, Ava eavesdrops outside Mr. James ’s partially open office door as Ava’s mum and Mr. James argue. Mr. James is...
(full context)
