Growing up in the many diverse homes as children do, many of which grow, filled with different beliefs on how they should look at life. Indoctrination refers to instructions given through a system of beliefs. Indoctrination is similar to psychologically grooming a person to believe something which may or may not be true with little to no evidence, which can be simply known as brain washing. In the Dennis Bock Novel, The Ash Garden, Protagonist Emiko is experienced with many examples of indoctrination throughout her young stages of life. Emiko is groomed to believe that all Americans are not to be trusted, the best way to deal with pain and shame is silence, and death is inevitable and it is to be faced. Through the anlayzation of quotations and details from the novel I will support the theory of how Emiko's beliefs are based through the indoctrinating experiences she underwent. .
Believing only what she was taught, Emiko was brainwashed by the teachings from school to believe that the "Americans" were a horrible race, and they are not to be trusted. Emiko's surroundings were a system of beliefs to the theory which only enforced the teachings, therefore allowing Emiko to believe nothing but this thought. "I knew only what had been taught in school. That they were the people we had built the fire pits to protect the city against. That they were a soulless, mad and destructive race always to be feared and never to be trusted." (Bock, 2001, Pg. 30). .
Through the quotation it is clear to see that Emiko's beliefs play a factor in her thoughts towards the doctors in charge of her treatments. During Emiko's time in the Red Cross Hospital, she displays a hatred and anger towards the doctors blaming them for her burns as they try to figure out a cure for her burns.