Snow_Falling_on_Cedars

“How has Guterson’s choice of form, features and language been used to shape meaning in Snow Falling on Cedars” The clashing of opinions about tradition, values and cultural norms causes disharmony within a community. Circumstances, incidents and individuality are made intricate through clashing viewpoints. Through Guterson’s use of vivid characterisation, intense setting and meaningful themes we are able to encompass a greater depth understanding of Snow Falling on Cedars. The occurrence of war on a country can influence ones judgement about others. The war between the Americans and the Japanese has an immense impact on the Japanese society in the novel, the Americans start viewing the Japanese from a racist and prejudice viewpoint and in turn, the Japanese do not trust the community and tend to stick with blood and race. “Suckers all look alike, never could tell them apart” shows the ignorance and racism that is exposed by the island natives. Guterson’s use of imagery further shows the bigotry and chauvinism present within the community; this is evident during the trial where all the Japanese sit at the back of the courtroom whereas the Americans are at the front. Before the war, there was little racial prejudice. The strawberry fields symbolise this along with prosperity and innocence. The harmonious mood is created through sensory imagery: “with the smell of the earth and its berries rising like a mist.” Conversely after the war breaks out Guterson reveals that the Americans approved internment as a precaution “this exiling of the Japanese was the right thing to do.... there was a war on and that changed everything.” Therefore the camp becomes a symbol of institutionalised racism and its cramped and unhygienic conditions contrast to the fields. This use of imagery suggests the way the Japanese felt while being insulted at the camps “the bitter wind hurled the desert sand in their faces.” Due to this cruel situation and feelings of rejection they “had the face of America’s enemy”; this is where the Japanese outlook on the internment conflicts with the Americans. And the readers are able to feel more sympathetic towards the Japanese perspective due to its innocence revealed through detailed description. Therefore through the use of flamboyant characterisation, powerful setting and momentous themes we are able to appreciate the conflicting perspective presented between the Japanese and the Americans which furthermore bestows a meaningful shape to the novel. Cultural differences can cause grief in a relationship which in turn can lead to unforseen decisions and heartbreaking conclusions. Ishmael chambers a former war veteran, journalist and a cynical protagonist of the novel is exposed through his flashbacks to his childhood memories and romance with a youthful Japanese girl Hatsue whose husband is on a trial for murder. Ishmael’s and Hatsue’s reciprocal love develops inside a crumbling cedar tree which operates as a metaphor; this is represented in two ways. Firstly the tree shields the lovers from the conflicting views of the town which forbids mixed relationships because of racial prejudice. Second the crumbling of the cedar tree foreshadows the demise of their relationship. The explanation for this fall of relationship is the conflicting perspectives between the Japanese and Americans due to the war. Here the collation of opinions rise between two significant characters, as Ishmael naively states to Hatsue that “If we love each other we’re safe from it all” whereas Hatsue states “this can’t go on”. Hatsue’s perspective on her relationship with Ishmael is influenced with her cultural identity. A personification reveals her strong links to her Japanese ancestry and duty demanding she marry within her culture “She could feel how this country far across the ocean pulled on her and lived inside her”. By describing her feelings, indirect characterisation reveals Hatsue’s belief that “If identity was geography instead of blood then Ishmael was part of her”. But Hatsue questions her love for Ishmael by rhetorically contemplating if their relationship is merely a product of close proximity: “What really do we have in common'” Due to the conflicting perspectives of Hatsue’s mother and the community Hatsue falls in love with Kabuo and Ishmael is left in denial about the conclusion of their relationship. His pain is worsened as he loses his arm during combat: “the way his finger curled against the wall..... a piece of trash on the floor.” This graphic metaphor exposes why he confuses his loss of Hatsue with the loss of his arm from the Japanese enemy when he uses derogatory language to call her “that fucking goddamn Jap bitch”. This is contrasted with Hatsue’s perspective as it communicates her perspective as she is much more mature towards the situation and writes a letterform the internment camp clearly explaining her feelings: “I don’t love you Ishmael.” Her unequivocal style and first person point of view makes the sentiments personal and reveals she is not bitter: “I am going to move on with my life as best I can, and I hope that you will too.” Therefore through the use of colourful characterisation, influential setting and important themes we are able to comprehend the conflicting perspective presented between the love affairs of Ishmael and Hatsue along with the San Piedro community. The ideas presented in Snow Falling on Cedars highlights the conflicting perspectives that contradict between humans due to cultural backgrounds, interpretations and motivations. This has been successfully and effectively achieved through the use of flamboyant characterisation, influential setting and imperative themes which enable the readers to obtain a more meaningful knowledge of the novel and shape its significance.