Synopsis
Memoirs of a Geisha
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his novel written by Arthur Golden, unfolds from the perspective of Chiyo (Zhang Ziyi). Sayuri’s story begins in a
poor fishing village in 1929, when as a nine-year-old with unusual blue-grey
eyes, she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha
house. Through her eyes, we see the decadent heart of Gion-the geisha district
of Kyoto-with its marvelous teahouse and theaters, narrow back alleys, ornate
temples, and artists’ streets.
Here, she learns that becoming a geisha can be the single
path to wealth and independence for a woman. The head geisha of her house,
however, Hatsumomo (Gong Li),
is bitterly jealous of Chiyo and abuses her at every opportunity. Eventually
Chiyo is taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's rival, Mameha (Michelle Yeoh), by far the most famous and successful geisha in their
district.
Under Mameha's tutelage, Chiyo becomes Sayuri, the most
legendary geisha in the nation, skilled in all areas, from conversation to
dance, and sought after by seemingly every man alive...except for the one whom
she has secretly longed for since she began her training, The Chairman (Ken Watanabe) -- a man who showed her kindness at a time when her view of
the world had turned the most bleak. Now as World War II approaches, Japan
stands at the brink of a new era and Sayuri must confront the possibility that
history will leave all that she has worked for behind.
Novel Analysis
Memoirs of a Geisha
A. Title : Memoirs of a Geisha
B. The
Writer :
Arthur Golden
Golden did extensive research before beginning to write Memoirs of a Geisha. In fact,
his formal education was the first step in preparing to write the novel. Golden
received his first degree in art history with a specialization in Japanese art
from Harvard University. He later went on to get his M.A. in Japanese history
from Columbia University. He also spent time working in Tokyo. Following his
time in the Far East, he returned to the U.S. and earned a M.A. in English from
Boston University.
C. Year : 1997
D. Genre : historical fiction, modern fairy tale, and Japanese-based
nature imagery
E. Number
of Pages :
F. The
Difficulties :
1. Level
of Difficulties
The
language that used in this novel is intermediate, used common words but
sometime we found new words about historical such us …….. that we didn’t
understand if we did not looked up on dictionary. We also found some words of
Japanese that we have to search in trusted translator.
2. Plot
and Point of View
This
novel used forward plot.
G. Key
Elements of The Plot :
1. Exposition : At the
age of nine, Chiyo Sakamoto is taken from her poverty-stricken fishing village
of Yoroido on the coast of the Sea of Japan with her older sister Satsu and sold to an okiya (geisha boarding house) in Gion, the
most prominent geisha district in Kyoto.
2. Conflict:
Hatsumomo continues to go out of her way to ruin
Sayuri by tarnishing her reputation in Gion, forcing Mameha and Sayuri to
devise a plan to push Hatsumomo out of the Nitta okiya lest Sayuri's career
ultimately die.
3. Climax : Hatsumomo
learns of the plan and tells Dr. Crab that Sayuri has already been deflowered.
However, after gaining back the respect of Dr. Crab by convincing him that
Hatsumomo is a known liar, he ultimately wins the bid for Sayuri's mizuageand she uses his
record-breaking payment to cover all of her fees. This leads Mother, who had
been poised to adopt Pumpkin as her heiress, to choose Sayuri instead,
ultimately destroying the two girls' friendship
4. Resolution
: Sayuri
eventually retires from being a geisha and the Chairman becomes her danna. It is revealed that they
have an illegitimate son together. Foreseeing the consequences this could have
regarding the inheritance of Iwamura Electric, she relocates to New York City
in later life.
H. Reaction
to The Book :
We
enjoy in reading this novel because the story can bring us to the real
situation that written in the novel. We can imagine all the parts on this
novel, and in every plot we always make prediction. We were curious to the
story and it makes us to read more.
We
would read another book by the same author because the way he carry the story
is detail enough and can bring the reader to the situation that written in the
book.
We
would recommend this novel to people around, more over to the friends who love
Japanese story and Japanese culture.
I. Characters
and Issues
1. Characters
a)
Sayuri (originally named Sakamoto
Chiyo)
Sayuri is the protagonist of the novel Memoirs of a
Geisha. She is the uneducated daughter of the fisherman Sakamoto Minoru and
his second wife. An intelligent and imaginative girl with light grey eyes,
Chiyo’s future in Yoroido is bleak.
b)
The Chairman (Iwamura Ken)
Iwamura Ken is referred to as “The
Chairman” throughout the novel Memoirs of a Geisha. He is the head of an
important company in Japan known as Iwamura Electric.
c)
Hatsumomo
Hatsumomo is the only working geisha
at the okiya where Sayuri is employed. An exceptionally attractive geisha,
Hatsumomo survives on her looks. Her beauty cannot hide the cruelty and hatred
that exist in her.
d)
Mameha
Mameha is one of the most famous
geisha in Japan. Her fame is a result of her beauty, which is not as striking
as Hatsumomo’s extravagant attractions but is deeper and more appealing. In
addition, to her beauty, Mameha had the highest mizuage (virgin price) on
record (until Sayuri’s mizuage broke the record).
e)
Nitta Kayoko (Mother)
Mother is the head of the okiya that
purchases Sayuri. She is an ugly woman who was unable to succeed as a geisha
and now makes her living running the okiya.
f)
Toshikazu Nobu
Nobu is president of Iwamura Electric and close friend of
The Chairman. He is a brilliant businessman and a loyal friend. He is a logical
man who has no patience with sentiment but is extremely loyal and kind to those
he respects.
g)
Pumpkin
She
is sweet natured, but not particularly intelligent. She has difficulty
mastering the skills taught at geisha schools
h)
Auntie
Auntie
manages the staff and performs various functions around the okiya, and she is
the most understanding person.
i)
Dr. Crab
He
has a particular interest in winning novice geishas' mizuage, or virginity.
j)
Baron
The danna of Mameha who is really rich and he is the collector of Kimono.
Cool and has a far sight.
k)
Satsu Sakamoto
Sayuri’s
sister who was
sold into prostitution and later ran away
2. Part/Chapter
There are 35 chapters in this novel. From all of the
chapters in the novel, we love to read chapter 9 where on Chiyo’s way back,
Chiyo meets Chairman, who gives her a coin to buy herself shaved ice, and also
gave her his handkerchief. From that moment, the girl decided to become a
geisha.
3. Issues
The
large issues are about competition and love.
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