Introduction War Trash is a fictional novel written by Ha Jin and published in 2004. The novel is about the predicaments of North Koreans and Chinese POWs during the Korean War. The author uses Yu Yuan to narrate the experience of POWs in the camps. War Trash is basically set in a prisoner of war camp located in South Korea. The camp hosts both North Korean and Chinese soldiers captured by the American and South Korean army. The author dwells mainly on dissimilar thoughts held by the Chinese and North Korean POWs in relation to their native countries. Ha Jin uses Yu Yuan (the narrator) to reveal the narrator’s unique perception about his life and duties. He is also used in the novel to depict his principles of fairness, friendship, love as well as respect (Whipple 1). Results There are several themes that emerge from this novel. The struggle between political ideologies (communism versus democracy) is one such theme. For example, the pro-communist camp used propaganda to force POWs to be repatriated back to North Korea and China. On the other hand, the pro-Nationalist camp employs similar strategy to compel POWs to be taken to Taiwan, an island claimed to be democratic and free. For example, the North Korean POWs are enticed by the pro-Nationalist camp to accept repatriation to Taiwan where they will enjoy free life than one offered in their native North Korea country. The relevance of this theme is also highlighted by YU Yuan. We learn that he is a victim of ridicule back at home because of his close ties with the Nationalist camp. In addition, Yuan is unable to get any gainful employment (Amend 5). This novel uses Yu Yuan’s personal view to describe the major issues of the Korean War. The major theme of War Trash is that the North Koreans and Chinese supported each other to thwart effort by South Koreans to capture Manchuria. North Koreans, either Communist or Nationalist was merely fodder for the war and would lose everything irrespective of their choices. The novel also uses Yu Yuan to describe how it is very difficult to find a path for a “good” person to live in especially if the society is corrupted. Yuan (the main character) felt responsible for his fiancée and mother and decided go back to China although he was not a communist. However, according to the society, it is better to die than be captured by the enemy. He would thus be treated as a traitor to the Communist cause if he went home. Nonetheless, Yu Yuan sacrifices himself and opted to go home to take care of his mother (Amend 5). Deception is another theme that emerges from this novel. Both side of the political divide lied to POWs. For example, the North Korean prisoners were promised by the Nationalists side a better and free life if they chose to be repatriated to Taiwan. But we learn from Yuan that this is a lie. Just like Yuan, the North Korean prisoner would receive cold reception in Taiwan due to their close ties with Communism. On the same note, if they opted to go back to their native country (North Korea), they would also be seen as traitors because they accepted to be captured by the enemy rather than die. In nutshell, both sides deceived the prisoners and everybody was used as a pawn. Thus, all charact