Memoirs Of A Geisha Essay

647 Words2 Pages

“Water never waits. It changes shape and flows around things, and find the secret paths no one else has thought about - the tiny hole through the roof or the bottom of the box.” (Golden 10) This metaphor is one of many that Arthur Golden uses in his novel Memoirs of a Geisha. Authors use metaphors and imagery to generate tone in literature, but in this case the recurring nature imagery achieves more than just creating feeling. Golden’s use of symbolism characterizes the variety of beliefs people held during that time. His gratuitous use of Japanese language as well as cultural references serve as a link between his fictional world and the real world.

One way Golden establishes a world connection is through exposition. He explains many aspects of Japanese tradition such as tea ceremonies, religion, and festivals. There are scenes that focus on superstition, and many beliefs relate to gender roles. In one scene, Mameha prays before three jizos representing the three children she'd lost. There is heavy discussion of almanacs and fortune telling, such as when Satsu ran away, or when Sayuri became an apprentice. …show more content…

Many comparisons were in passing, such as when apprentice geisha were called “perhaps the most brilliantly colored primates of all.” (Golden 168) The male characters in the novel are not the only ones who perpetuate this dehumanizing behavior. One example is the homeless eel analogy Mameha uses to explain the concept of mizuage. (Golden 232) Men’s body parts were compared to eels looking for a home, and women compared to caves. Men are considered living things that need satisfaction; women are reduced to non-living things that exist only to support others. Even Sayuri is complicit in this behavior, comparing Etsuko to a grain of rice and saying that soon, “she too would be [thrown into the pot, and fluff up white and delicious, to be consumed].” (Golden

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