The inclusion of the memory of the dunce cap in the flashback of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor contributes by showing that the dunce cap represents a feeling of humiliation and being made to feel inferior.
The memory of the dunce cap is juxtaposed with the memory of the attack on Pearl Harbor, creating a parallel between personal humiliation and national tragedy. This connection highlights the impact of the attack on both an individual and collective level, emphasizing the significance of the event and its lasting effects.
The memory of the dunce cap relates to the narrator's sense of identity by showcasing the narrator's vulnerability and the challenges faced in the past.