To Yoseb, having his wife and sister-in-law repay his debt feels emasculating, as if it’s proof that he isn’t capable of providing for his own family. Sunja’s ownership of such an expensive watch also raises his suspicions, since it isn’t something that an ordinary peasant girl would normally own. It makes him suspect that there’s more to Sunja’s story than he knows.

Isak doesn’t know where the watch has come from, either, but he takes responsibility for the situation. Sunja gives birth to her and Hansu’s son that night, just as the issues surrounding the watch have come to a head—suggesting that Hansu’s presence in Sunja’s life will linger.

Yoseb feels he is under unbearable pressure to support not only himself and Kyunghee, but Isak’s growing family and their struggling families back in Korea, in an unforgiving colonial environment. Yet forgiveness will be key to Yoseb’s ability to bear this terrible weight. Though he is less forthcoming about his Christian faith than Isak, Yoseb’s choice of name for the new baby (referring to the biblical story of Noah’s ark in Genesis) reveals much about his own sustaining faith—he faithfully tries to do what’s asked of him even when it feels impossible.