Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto Class Notes V Holmes

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto Class Notes V. Holmes IB English III

What emotion is created by this image?

How would your emotions differ if you were alone?

Is it possible to feel lonely in a city this size?

Is it possible to feel isolated here?

Historical Context Tokyo in the 1980’s Population: Over 8 million people One of the most expensive cities in the world to live Crowded, with cramped living conditions Industrial economy with reliance upon exportation of automobiles and electronics to the West

Cultural Changes n In Japan, Yoshimoto’s generation is called the shinjinrui, a generation that has grown up in a wealthy, technological society exposed to American values. After WWII, western ideas and a free market changed a more traditional-minded Japan.

Changes n n Before WWII women were socially and economically subordinate to men and marriages were arranged by families At the turn of the last century, women did not have the right to ask for a divorce. By the mid-1980’s more women filed for divorce than men in Japan. The novel as an art form is new (imported from Europe in the late 1800’s) Tanizaki Junichiro, wrote in 1932 that European literature liberated the concept of love for the Japanese. The idea of marriage changed from an economic arrangement to a romantic possibility between two people.

Kitchens n n n A few generations ago, food preparation was considered a lower class occupation. By the mid-1980’s, it had become a respectful career as well as an art form. The kitchen has become a showcase of consumer wealth.

Gender Role Changes n n A popular theater company for Japanese girls is the Takarazuka, in which an all-female cast acts out roles of both men and women in a dreamlike atmosphere that challenges gender boundaries. In the 1980’s women held one of every 40 management positions, and the Japanese workforce was about 35% women. Today, women hold one in 25 management positions, and the workforce is about 40% women.

Existentialism n n Mikage does not have a religious belief system, so she turns to her friends and herself for meaning. Existentialist heroes in literature often are plagued with despair and profound loneliness. Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (1813 -1855) suggests that one must acknowledge that despair may automatically accompany existence. Personal freedom comes at the expense of going against the mainstream crowd. Mikage feels that she will never know the happiness that seems to come easily to other people. This happiness is “living a life untouched as much as possible by the knowledge that we are really, all of us, alone. ” Mikage instead desires to “continue living with the awareness that I will die. ” Eriko tells Mikage: “…undertaking the care and feeding of something. Doing this one begins to understand freedom, ‘or your own limitations. ”

Characters n Mikage: (MEE-ka-gee Sah-Ko-rye) protagonist and narrator n Yuichi Tanabe (Yoo-EE-chee Tah-NAH-bee) young man who befriends Mikage (love interest) n Sensei (SEN-say) cooking teacher n Sotaro (soh-TAH-roh) Mikage’s old boyfriend n Eriko (Eh-REE-koh) Yuichi’s mother/father n Okuno (oh-KOO-no) Yuichi’s girlfriend at school n Chika (Chih-KA) transsexual head “girl” at Eriko’s club n Kuri (KOO-ri) works with Mikage and Nori at the cooking school n Nori (NOUGH-ree) “proper young lady” at the cooking school

Free Will and Personal Responsibility Mikage makes the statement: “People aren’t overcome by situations or outside forces, defeat invades from within. ”

Climax n n n As Mikage climbs the hotel balcony, she contemplates the concept of “free will. ” Before she comes to this realization, she states that “we have so little choice, ” and that “we live like the lowliest worms. ” At the end of the novel, despite believing in premonitions, she believes in the individual freedom of “constantly making choices. ”

Themes n Cooking and Cuisine Death n Gender and Identity n n n n Loneliness Love Meaning of Life n n Nurturing and healing “There’s always death around us. ” Crossing boundaries introduced Embrace the loneliness and courage of independence Provides strength and healing Provided through relationships – loss, pain, and suffering are an important part of life. Without pain, how can we know joy?

Style n Climax: Mikage climbs the balcony to face Yuichi about their relationship n Narrative structure: chronological order and flashbacks n Point of View: lst person n n Symbolism: Kitchens: places of contentment, safety, and healing Cooking: way to overcome feelings of meaningless and despair (creativity) Food: a way to reach out, a way to express love or a way to experience oneself Voice: urban, sensitive, young, feminine, open