Ms. Sofia Mori Character Analysis

The secretary of the Department of Oriental Studies at Occidental College, where the narrator works as a clerk. She is forty-six years old and was born in Gardena, California. She is a Nisei, or second-generation Japanese-American. She wears rhinestoned, horn-rimmed glasses and, initially, doesn’t seem to like the narrator. She is independent, feminist, and espouses free love. Soon, they begin a sexual relationship which Sofia insists will remain casual. Sofia is Japanese-American and dislikes the Department Chair because of his fetish for Asians and his condescending attitude. Despite their physical intimacy, the narrator retains an air of formality with her, usually addressing her as “Ms. Mori.” She and the narrator eventually stop seeing each other after he leaves for the Philippines to work on The Hamlet. At this time, Ms. Mori becomes romantically involved with Sonny.