The time of ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ is about
World war Ⅱ. The
protagonist, Nitta Sayuri’s life was full of ups and downs.
Sayuri was sent to Gion, Kyoto when she was
twelve or so. Because her family had little money and her mother was very sick.
It was really tough for her to become a geisha. There were always many
difficulties and problems around her. But she was getting to be the most famous
and popular geisha in Gion…
Some words from this still remain in my
mind. ‘We don’t become geisha because we want our lives to be happy; we become
geisha because we have no choice.’ For Sayuri, if her family were rich, she
would marry and have children after growing up. She didn’t have to go to Gion. Many
people say it is really important to have your own dream. But it is sometimes
more important to have much money and live. I think it is sad, but it is the
truth.
Before reading this, I read ‘Gone with the
Wind’. And I think both ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ and ‘Gone with the Wind’ have a
similar point. That is, gender problem. At that time in Japan, women were expected
not to be strong or expected to agree with men’s idea just like in America.
Women were expected to be beautiful toys.
I recommend this book to read. You can
learn manner and rule of geisha. That’s interesting. You can get to know about
war, too. But if you want to enjoy this book more, why don’t you read ‘Gone
with the Wind’ and contrast two stories?
Nanako
Nanako
Nanako,
ReplyDeleteI think you have hit the nail right on the head (American expression) with your inight into both Geisha and GWTW. Gender expectations, ideals, false promises, and societal rigidness are a HUGE part of both of these novels. I congratulate you on your analysis of both.
Chris
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment. It was kind of sad to know how women treated at war time. But I think, it is very important to know how people survived during the war. I am a female, so I am simply and naturally interested in the way women survived. I will keep reading.
Nanako