Samantha Character Analysis in Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Marty’s fiancée. Samantha is white, but is skilled at cooking Chinese food, and is an exuberant and warm young woman. She wants to learn as much as she can about Marty’s family, and she is one of the first people to encourage Henry to try to track down Keiko. Samantha’s eager questions about Keiko—and Henry’s childhood more broadly—help open Henry’s eyes to the fact that he has not allowed his son to really get to know him.

Samantha Character Timeline in Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

The timeline below shows where the character Samantha appears in Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...going to marry a Chinese woman. Before Henry can explain that he is not disappointed, Samantha comes outside and introduces herself, wrapping Henry in a hug. Henry flashes Marty a thumbs... (full context)

Family Dynamics and Inheritance Theme Icon

Marty and Samantha sit in the backyard while Henry prunes his ume tree. Samantha asks about the tree,... (full context)

...born, “a Chinese tree in a Japanese garden.” Without explaining, Henry then asks Marty and Samantha to meet him next Thursday in the tearoom of the Panama Hotel. (full context)

Marty and Samantha meet Henry at the Panama Hotel tearoom. Marty explains to Samantha that Henry was not... (full context)

...Henry explains that going to Nihonmachi was too painful for him, which confuses Marty and Samantha. “Why would it be painful if you never went there in the first place, if... (full context)

Belonging, Bigotry, and Identity Theme Icon

Henry says, “I’m glad Samantha asked, because it certainly makes the rest of this easier to explain.” Marty is confused... (full context)

Henry confesses that he needs Marty and Samantha’s help “looking for something.” Marty guesses that his father is looking for “an old forgotten... (full context)

In the basement of the Panama Hotel, Henry, Marty, and Samantha sort through items. Henry finds himself annoyed that Marty and Samantha are getting “caught up... (full context)

Just then, Samantha shouts that she has found a record. Henry knows before he even looks at it... (full context)

Henry, Marty, and Samantha have stopped at the Uwajimaya grocery store so Samantha can buy ingredients to cook a... (full context)

...never sell that record, no matter what shape it was in.” Before Henry can explain, Samantha returns from the store and announces she’ll be cooking two of Henry’s favorite dishes for... (full context)

Samantha cooks a delicious Chinese dinner for Marty and Henry. The three toast to “a successful... (full context)

After dinner, Samantha falls asleep, and Marty and Henry speak on the porch. Marty asks if his grandfather,... (full context)

...he has come to give Sheldon the Oscar Holden record he found with Marty and Samantha in the Panama Hotel basement. Henry warns Sheldon that the record is broken, but Sheldon... (full context)

...can’t bring himself to talk about Keiko in front of his son. Marty apologizes for Samantha’s insistence at dinner that Henry look for Keiko. Henry assures his son that it is... (full context)

...soon hears the old Oscar Holden record—his and Keiko’s song—playing from Sheldon’s room. Henry finds Samantha sitting by Sheldon’s bed; she explains that Keiko sent her copy of the record to... (full context)

...New York City for the first time. He was too nervous to follow Marty and Samantha’s advice—that he call Keiko to let her know he was coming. Inside Keiko’s apartment building,... (full context)