Memoirs of a Geisha - Reading Response 2

In my opinion the song Sayuri's Theme by John Williams is perfect for the book, Memoirs Of A Geisha because it really goes with the more saddening mood of the novel and really expresses Chiyo's emotions throughout the novel.

Reading Response #1 - Rohail S

Reading Response #1
Memoirs Of A Geisha
Rohail S

Theme

The theme, destiny, is developed through-out the book, Memoirs Of A Geisha, by giving Chiyo/Sayuri no choice but to do as she is told to become a geisha. She never had a chance to even think about her own future for at the age of nine she was already sold. Her buyer, Mother, had her future already set to be a Geisha at that age or fail and live her life as an irrelevant maid. Chiyo’s destiny was already chosen for her and she could not do anything about it because she never had a choice she could make for herself. This theme develops by showing that throughout Chiyo’s years, no matter her age; she was always a victim to her destiny. Destiny is something that Chiyo cannot escape and it makes her choices for her even when she does succeed in becoming a geisha.

Character

Chiyo or later named Sayuri is the main character of the story and starts out as a little girl in a poor fishing village but slowly develops and is changed by Gion’s ways of living. From slave girl to geisha Chiyo grows physically and mentally, working hard to have a purpose in life. She recovers from losing her sister and finding out that her mother and father have died and survives through the tortures of the deceitful Hatsumomo. She succeeds in becoming a well known geisha and becomes a member of Mother’s family. The characters in Memoirs of a Geisha all physically develop and age throughout the story and Chiyo’s mind is adapted to the Geisha ways understanding the concept of Geisha as the reader does.

Mood/Atmosphere

The book in whole is set in Kyoto, Japan from Chiyo’s first home in her unnamed fishing village to Gion, a town in eastern Kyoto. The book is always in Chiyo’s point of view and she explains to the reader most of Gion’s culture. The atmosphere is very subtle giving time to explain the surroundings to the reader but is very evocative. It is foreign but also draws you in. The atmosphere develops throughout the book by revealing new settings that are more emphasized on Japanese culture and shows hope, destiny and “beauty” in a different light.

Conflict

Chiyo’s greatest conflict that goes throughout the book is her fighting her own destiny, which she always lost to. No matter what she does, she usually never gets her way. She wasn’t allowed to pick her appearance, or choose to keep her virginity, or even love. Another enormous conflict was the torturous Hatsumomo always ruining her life by making her as miserable as she could. The conflict develops throughout the story by keeping Chiyo at a loss until the right moment. Chiyo takes all the things Hatusmomo throws at her and only by following Mameha’s great plan does she finally, after years, find victory over Hatsumomo.