Snow Country by Kawabata - Literature review Example

Task: Kawabata, Snow Country The setting of novel is on the beauty of Japanese landscape. It begins with a ride using a trainin the coastal region of the western island of Japan. The title of the novel is drawn from the main island where the novel is based, Snow Country. The main character in the novel is Shimamura is portrayed as a leisure observant person. Shimamura meets other two passengers who acted more like a couple (Kawabata, p. 1). This was closely related to his issue as he was also travelling to settle his relationship issues. Shimamura had made an earlier visit to the Snow Country where he was got attracted to a lady named Komako. Kawabata describes the valleys and mountains experienced by Shimamura in his affair with Komako. Their interactions were at times easygoing and sometimes tense. Kawabata gives a description of Shimamura’s background of which he mentions that Shimamura has a family in Tokyo. Shimamura has never visited a ballet performance yet he claims that has skills in European style ballet. At the hotel, Shimamura seems to be disturbed by a lot of issues apart from the matters at hand. Komako finds it comfortable to spend time with Shimamura while drinking heavily which he notes. Shimamura imagines of an affair that could have revolved around the sick man in the train and Komako as well as the girl on the train whose name is Yoko. It is so amazing that Shimamura is disturbed by the fascinating beauty of Yoko with whom he is travelling. Shimamura displays his opportunistic nature by observing the situation of the sick man and wondering his relationship with Yoko (Kennedy, p. 1). The first half the story ends with Shimamura leaving the train wondering whether the sick man is taking his last breath. Shimamura decides to visit the island in order to give himself a meaning to his life. He feels very comfortable and realizes that he is not satisfied and needs to adjust honesty in his life. He tries to fulfill some of his aspirations by appointing himself in the western dance. Shimamura is disappointed by the fact that he is not able to get the services of a geisha. Following that, he decides to look for a solution in order to compensate for that situation. He falls in love with Komako who does not seem to be fully into geisha at the beginning of the story (Kennedy, p. 1). She was not fully fledged as far as geisha is concerned. Kawabata reveals the struggle in the relationship between Shimamura and Komako. It is difficult to define Shimamura’s love intent as he even admires another girl at the resort, Yoko. The novel makes it difficult for the audience to understand the culture setting of the story. It takes to time to familiarize oneself with the Japanese culture. We realize that the status of a geisha is dependent on the place of giving the service. Komako as a geisha at the mountain resort has a status different with if she was geisha at a city, for example, Tokyo. The status of a geisha in Tokyo is considered superior to that of one at the mountain resort. I do not understand how the Japanese rate the geisha’s. Perhaps they were prized for their artistic achievements. What a society values as well as appreciates varies from one culture to another. From my perception, the geisha’s in the novel were of prostitutes. Nevertheless, that is what the society of the Japanese culture required of a perfect geisha. The theme of prostitution is highly revealed as it is difficult to predict the intent of Shumamura’s love. His is due to the fact that he admires many girls despite the fact that he is a family man. The prostitution culture of the setting of the story justifies the impossibility of the relationship between Shimamura and Komako(Kawabata, p. 123). The beauty of Komako is at peak when she is at such a young age. Otherwise, she obviously will not be presentable to Shimamura at some later time. In fact, the reader feels the impossibility of the relationship. The impossibility of the relationship is asserted by Shimamura’s closed relationship status by the fact that she is married. In addition, he is in the fantasy of his world. He is not visionary about the relationship but rather enjoys it for the time being. He is not ready to fully commit himself to the relationship. Furthermore, his character reveals that he is unwilling to engage with life fully in several aspects. This is also evident when he claims to be into the ballet of which he is shallowly engaged in. Komako suffers a series of losses when the sick man dies. Secondly, one of the geishas leaves town because of a scandal. She ends up focusing on her affair with Shimamura when enjoys her company as they drink. The Snow Country digs into the Japanese culture portraying the dingy conditions as well as few life perspectives that the society of the snow country were exposed to. The setting of the story is still a tourist destination even today. The residents have tried to put away the snow by the use of sprinklers as well as underground pumps. Kawabata uses various styles to bring out the theme of the story. He uses quick delivery of expressions. This enables immediate capture of the flow of the story. Kawabata uses undisclosed as well as uncertain information. This style enables the reader to think for themselves as the answer is obvious (Kennedy, p. 1). The use of suggestive images that are built in the appropriate context makes one to visualize the situation being described. Scholars state that the styles used by Kawabata in developing his work are mainly derived from Japanese traditional writing. This is evident in the use of contrasting mages that originates from classical Japanese poetics. The image, snow country represents the main island of Japan. In addition, it represents the kind of lifestyle of the setting of the story. Kawabata uses imagery to compare how Japanese culture perceives geishas from different places. As we notice, a geisha at the snow country is rated in a low profile as compared to one in Tokyo city. Apart from being able to artistic, memorable, and passionate observations, Shimamura is good in being self-absorbed as well as remarkably aloof. Shimamura travels into the snow country using the train; he builds fantasy using the features that he sees on the landscapes. His world is well described by the reflections as well as the objects he sees around him as he travels. It is important to relate the setting of the story to Shimamura’s world. Features like mountains and creatures as used in the story play an important role in developing he story. This is a lot of beauty in the writing of the story. Kawabata reveals the problems that Shimamura experiences in his life (Kawabata, p. 103). These include the problems h experiences in making human relationship. He is not able to give full commitment to women. This is evident in the fact that he is married with a family yet he searches for pleasure from other women. He is very cold to Komako, yet she feels safe with him and also finds comfort from him. He directly contrasts her feelings. Komako demands that he gives her a comment on her how she is good. However, he is not able to do so and instead laughs. Beauty is systematically expressed in the story as they come unexpectedly. Shimamura first hears Yoko’s voice and becomes amazed. He starts thinking of her in a suggestive way. The novel also displays conflicting ideas in “wasted efforts”. The fact couples both positive and negative ideas. Komako is revealed to be having interest in collecting cigarettes, writing down characters, reading books among other distinctive hobbies (Kennedy, p. 1). However, the interests do not provide a solution for her desperate state. Conflicting ideas have also been expressed in Shimamura’s unending lust for women yet he does not commit himself fully to them. Shimamura is fond of being attracted to ladies yet he is married and has a family in Tokyo. Conflict also comes in Shimamura’s relationship when it becomes difficult for the reader to understand what he looks for in love. He seems to be interested in every beautiful ready around him. Work cited Top of Form Bottom of Form Kawabata, Yasunari, and Edward Seidensticker. Snow Country. New York: Vintage Books, 1996. Print. Kennedy, Patrick. Snow country, Study guide. Classic Literature in Translation, Web. 12 April, 2014. http://literatureintranslation.about.com/od/StudyGuides/p/SnowGuide.htm Solar Bridge. Snow Country, Yasunari Kabawata. Solar Bridge Word Press, 17 February, 2011. Web. 12 April, 2014. http://solarbridge.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/snow-country-yasunari-kawabata Read More