Loyalty

“There are some who would say it is people like myself who are responsible for the terrible things that happened to this nation of ours. As far as I am concerned, I freely admit I made many mistakes. I accept that much of what I did was ultimately harmful to our nation, that mine was part of an influence that resulted in untold suffering for our own people. I admit this. You see, Dr Saito, I admit this quite readily.” In this quote, Masuji Ono admits that he took part in leading Japan into World War II by being patriotic. He was loyal to his country as his pupils are loyal to him. Loyalty is a major theme throughout this book. It is loyalty that led Ono to paint patriotic paintings that liberated the people to support this movement towards war. It is also through this loyalty that split the generations, whether it was unintentional or not. The younger generation despises the elders for destroying the reputation and prosperity of their country.

It seems to me that this book questions the nature of loyalty. How loyal must one be? According to this book, the extent of loyalty has caused incidents. The first is the influence of war, even though Japan shouldn’t have gotten involved. Many people from the young generation believe a war was pointless and that Japan shouldn’t have been involved. The second is the split between the generations. The younger generation resent the older generation for influencing the war. If it weren’t for the many paintings of misleading patriotism, Japan would have never joined the war. Thus, Japan would not have lost its prestige and honor. The third is that Ono has lost the respect of Mr. Kuroda due to the fact that Mr. Kuroda blames Ono for causing the war.

Who is Suichi?

“It’s just that Suichi persists in asking me from time to time about last year, about why the Miyakes should have pulled out like that. He seems convinced I know some secret and that we’re all keeping it from him. I have to continually reassure him that I have no idea myself.” (p.18) Words like “persists”, “convinced”, “secret”, “keeping”, “continually” and “reassure” define the thinking process of Suichi, which illustrates part of his character. He is a character who is mentioned about four times in this book. Although he isn’t mentioned as much as the other major characters, one can easily realize the influential impact Suichi has on others.

One example that portrays this impact is on page 36 when Ono tells Setsuko that before the War, people weren’t allowed to watch American films. Setsuko then tells Ono that Suichi enlightened Ichiro that “American heroes are better for children.” (p. 36) Suichi influences Ichiro to become more open-minded and embrace other cultures other than his own. Now, Ichiro seems intrigued by the idea of idolizing cowboys because they seem better that ninjas and samurais. After constantly accusing Setsuko of knowing a secret about why the Miyakes declined the marriage offers, he persuades her to believe that Ono is withholding information from the rest of the family. When Setsuko questions Ono about any secrets, Ono quickly notices her suspicions. He gets irritated with Suichi because his views are “irrational.” (p.50) His irrational views are causing Ono to resent him because they contradict what he is trying to teach his daughters.

Suichi specifically asserts his mind. He is a profound speaker, according to Setsuko, because she says he “expresses things better.” (49)He is a “physically powerful man”, according to anyone who crosses his path, who is an innocent human being. (p.58) Ono enjoyed listening to the wit of Suichi but ever since the War, Suichi has become bitter. Now, he gets angry during funerals because he believes that his comrades died for “stupid causes.” (p.58)To him, “the greatest cowardice of all” is that the perpetrators who sent out these brave souls to do their dirty work are still alive. (p.58) “Suichi’s generation” have all become bitter because they have experienced these tragic affairs that many brave souls died from. (p.61) These experiences have caused people around him to dislike him to an extent.

I’ve noticed that he hardly ever comes around Setsuko’s family even though he is a very influential man. This is something I couldn’t quite figure out. Is it because he is afraid that people around him will remind him of his fallen comrades? Is it because he despises his country? Or is it because he dislikes Setsuko’s family?

Ahmad and Children

Naguib Mahfouz shows the audience how much care Ahmad has for his children when on page 12 he writes " making no distinction between the eldest and the youngest". This small paragraph stood out to me because it gives the audience a perspective of how Ahmad views his children. This section prepares the audience for the one meal when the males all eat together: breakfast. The reading gives a warning to what is about to occur in the book. It gives us, the audience, a sense of what level of importance Ahmad gives to his children.

Susan, this is the blog that I previously had technical difficulties with it. I sent it to you through chinquapin mail on September 14.

Reunited and It Feels So Good?

She lowered her eyes to hide her overwhelming joy. She could not conceal the emotions rocking her soul. Her face seemed an extremely accurate mirror, registering everything that was inside her, no matter how small. She wanted so much to receive the happy news with a composure befitting her maternal role, but she was transported by joy. The features of her face laughingly expressed her childish delight. At the same time she felt ashamed, although she did not know why. She remained motionless for so long that Kamal's patience was exhausted. He pulled her by the hand, putting his entire weight into it until she yielded and rose. She stood for a little while in a strange confusion. Before she realized what she was doing the turned and asked, "Should I go, Mother?" p. 232

This passage is the climax to Amina's exile and it is affective because of the rhetoric stance the author takes: pathos. The passage effectively portrays both the excitement she got from a reunion with her beloved children and the shame she feels for herself. With descriptive word choice and illustrative detail the author is able to effectively lure the reader into the book as though the reader was actually Amina.

Through descriptive word choice, the reader is able to empathize with Amina because there has been a moment where we felt so happy that our inner child came out. Amina is decribed as being so happy that she couldn't conceal her inner child while trying to "receive the happy news with a composure befitting her maternal role." (232) Words such as "childish delight", "overwhelming joy", and laughingly protray the excitement she received from the news her children brought. After she is overjoyed from that moment of pardoning she quickly is blanketed with feelings of embarrassment and shamefulness. These feelings were so powerful that she "remained motionless" to the point where Kamal began to get impatient. Words such as "strange confusion", and ashamed illustrate how ashamed she was for being exiled. She then questions herself of being worthy to be by Ahmad's side by questioning her mother if she should go back.

Amina's inner child and shamefulness is described effectively with descriptive sentences. After reading the descriptive first half of the paragraph, the reader is able to imagine the feeling Amina was overcome by. The reader is able to picture Amina trying to hide a smile that occupies most of her face but then gives in to her inner child by jumping up and down. Then, suddenly this picture is flipped inside out with a feeling of shame by the illustrative second half of the paragraph. The reader then imagines Amina wide-eyed and stiff after realizing the shame she brought on herself for being exiled.