Banana Yoshimoto Essay

Family around the world is a key component on what it means to feel loved, praised, and molded into a young lady. Banana Yoshimoto's novel depicts the story of Mikage a Japanese girl who's lost her entire family throughout the years. However, Mikage soon discovers that a family can be found within the people you least expect for her that was the Tanabe's who helped Mikage gain strength in herself to continue with life once more, as well as comforting her. The author Yoshimoto develops a theme of the importance a family can have among one's life by using Mikage as an example on how difficult life can be without a family. Yoshimoto also establishes that in order for someone to live a happy life you would need support and guidance from a family member.

In the beginning of the story Mikage shares that when her grandmother passed away she would go and sleep in the kitchen because it was the only place in their apartment where she could sleep peacefully, warm her aching heart, and feel closure between her grandmother, as well as accepting the fact that she is now alone in the world without a family member she could lean own when weak. This demonstrates that the key to Mikages happiness and comfort is around a kitchen and the connection the

When Eriko dies Mikage realizes that kitchens “represent fter Erikosdeatg Mikage comes to the conclusion that kitchens “represent a distant longing engraved in my soul” (p.56) The diction used demonstrates the the idea to Mikage that kitchens give her strength when placed in a stressful situation. Mikage even has dreams with variations of kitchens signifying how the kitchen has become more to her since she dreams of them constantly indicating her change of emotions once in her happy place. Mikage also depicts that she cannot live without a kitchen and that one should appreciate the family they have around whether they like them or