Does Karen Russell Use Juxtaposition In Reeling For The Empire

Juxtaposition is the art of contrast and authors often use juxtaposition as a tool of both subtlety and boldness. Whether it is to illustrate the character’s ideals or emphasize conflict, authors utilize juxtaposition to provide a better understanding for the readers. Haruki Murakami’s “Family Affair” and Karen Russell’s “Reeling for the Empire” both invite the readers to understand the character by continuously collocating the character’s personality and action in the form of symbols and descriptions.

“Reeling for the Empire” by Karen Russell is a fantastical story set in Japan during the Industrial Revolution. The narrator of the story, Kitsune, is a young woman who is recruited by a mysterious Recruitment Agent who is later revealed to

be working for a silk factory that turns its workers into human silkworms. She then joins a group of women who have transformed into silk reeling creatures. Contrary to the other female workers however, Kitsune was the only woman who wasn’t sold off to sign the contract with the Agent. Rather, she willingly signed the contract with the Agent and was excited to start working in the factory. Kitsune also sets herself apart in the special tea ceremony. Whereas the female workers were forced to drink the special tea and immediately went into convulsions afterwards, Kitsune drank the tea willingly and merely sat down then waited for the Agent to return. Even the Agent expresses his surprisement claiming that, “no Joko ever drank the pot of it.” Even before Kitsune enters the silk factory and becomes a silk reeling creature, Russell shows how Kitsune’s defiant and independent character juxtaposes with the rest of the female workers. This juxtaposition is used to foreshadow that Kitsune will bring about change in the workplace dynamics and events. Later in the story, Kitsune begins to reel out black silk while the other works continue to reel out colorful ones, and this stark contrast serves as another symbol for Kitsune’s unique position and by employing this sharp and direct juxtaposition between Kitsune and the rest of the female workers, Russell is able to give direct support to why Kitsune was needed to revolt against the factory. Additionally, the black silk served as a turning point for Kitsune to take direct action against the factory by plotting to eliminate the Recruitment Agent with the workers.