How does the use of dialogue reveal the essence of Hom Hing's personality in Sui Sin Far's story "In the Land of the Free"?

In Sui Sin Far’s short story “In the Land of the Free,”
dialogue is used to reveal the traits of Hom Hing’s personality in a number of ways,
including the following:

• Hom Hing seems happy
  and proud when he first discusses his newly arrived son with the immigration
  officers.


• He seems self-controlled but frustrated when he
  replies to the officers who question his right to bring his son into the United
  States.


• He seems determined when he responds to the
  officers who tell him that his son cannot be admitted to the U.
  S.


• He seems sensitive and poetic when he tells the
  officers about first learning that his wife was
  pregnant.


• He seems confidently authoritative when he
  discusses how his wife obeyed his orders.


• He seems
  resigned when he finally explains to his wife that they must leave the boy with the
  officers for a while:

readability="6">

“'Tis the law, . . . and 'twill be but for a
little while – until tomorrow’s sun
rises.”

• He seems
  considerate and compassionate when he comforts his wife after their first night home
  together.


• He seems resigned to further delays when he
  first talks with the lawyer.


• He seems concerned for his
  wife’s health when he tells the lawyer that she may soon
  die.


• He seems hopeful when the lawyer first discusses a
  possible solution but then seems frustrated when he learns what the proposal is and how
  much it will cost.

In short, in this story, Hom
Hing runs a gamut of emotions as the circumstances of the plot change and develop. He is
the story’s most dynamic character, emotionally, and most of his emotions are revealed
through his dialogue with other characters.