Generosity In Thanksgiving

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What does “Kitchen” suggest about the role of generosity when an individual undergoes the process of recovery? Grief is a ubiquitous thing. It’s a constant entity in every single life, a feeling that everyone is bound to feel. It is difficult to define the expression of grief, as no single person deals with it in the same way. Some may feel trapped and isolated, while for others, it only motivates them to do more. Regardless of the way an individual may face grief, it is unanimous that it hurts. It taints their thoughts, hurts their memories, and can make them feel alone. In times like these, the importance of generosity is monumental. Generosity is the quality of being plentiful and kind. It radiates compassion, expresses love, and shows …show more content…

From the very beginning, the story feels somber. The reader learns of Mikage’s trauma, of her loss, and of her “drowsiness”, and is able to see that she is in despair(4). ‘One by one,' Mikage's connection to the world started to withdraw as her family died(4). When her grandmother passed, she had no one left. She felt trapped in time, unable to process her grief, and hurled into the “blackness of the cosmos”(4). However, when Yuichi showed up to her door, this gloomy sense of despair seemed to lessen. In Mikage’s eyes, Yuichi seemed to “glow” with “white light”, a complete contrast of the depressive state she previously felt overwhelmed by (7,7). Yuichi’s ability to show generosity manifested in Mikage as a symbol of hope. This generosity was able to contrast this sense of despair, and was able to help Mikage begin her journey of overcoming grief. Throughout the rest of the novella, hope and despair are prevalent. In terms of Mikage’s healing journey, the sheer generosity of the Tanabes seemed to help. Her sense of despair started to go away, and she once again felt “light” come back into her heart(21). Mikage was hopeful, and started to think about moving forward and out of the Tanabe residence. Still, however, sadness was present. At any point in the novella, the reader can still feel the effects of her trauma and loss, and can still feel the pain which plagues Mikage. A reminder of this is when she's bussing home at night, and witnesses a granddaughter with her grandma. This made Mikage envious, she was angry, not specifically at the family on the bus, but at the fact that she would never be able to hear her grandmother's voice again. This realization finally broke Mikage, and for the first time since her grandmother's death, she cried over everything. The sense of loneliness, which felt so common to her, was finally able to be expressed, and she felt like

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