Japanese-British writer Kazuo Ishiguro is not very fond of critics concentrating on Japanese elements in his works , however, his first short stories and the following two novels take place – even if, as it is the case with A Pale View of Hills, only partly– in Japan, making it hard not to concentrate on the writer´s apparent preoccupation with his Japanese heritage. His third novel, featuring an English setting and characters – an old mansion, a butler, and his employer, may have been viewed as an attempt to break away from this line of interpretation on the one hand, on the other, however, it was the one work which first merited a mention of the similarities between the butler´s philosophy of life and the samurai code of honour. To the author, though, his three novels, namely A Pale View of Hills, An Artist of the Floating World, and The Remains of the Day, are linked primarily by their characters, who all seem to be stuck in similar situations, having to face their past – in all three cases the past ultimately revolves around their choices before, during and in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War – and consequently struggle with their long-repressed feelings of regret and even shame...
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Samurai Ethics in the Novels of Kazuo Ishiguro
2.1. Samurai Ethics – An Overview
2.2. The Position of Woman – Ishiguro’s Female Characters
2.3. Suicide
2.4. The Duty of Loyalty
2.4.1. Filial Piety
2.4.2. Teacher-Student relationship
2.4.3. Loyalty to the Master
2.4.4. Serving a Higher Purpose
2.5. Self-Control
2.6. Ishiguro’s Imaginary Homeland(s)
3. Conclusion
4. Bibliography
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Samurai Ethics in the Novels of Kazuo Ishiguro
2.1. Samurai Ethics – An Overview
2.2. The Position of Woman – Ishiguro’s Female Characters
2.3. Suicide
2.4. The Duty of Loyalty
2.4.1. Filial Piety
2.4.2. Teacher-Student relationship
2.4.3. Loyalty to the Master
2.4.4. Serving a Higher Purpose
2.5. Self-Control
2.6. Ishiguro’s Imaginary Homeland(s)
3. Conclusion
4. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This work examines the presence and influence of traditional samurai ethics—specifically the code of bushido—within the novels and short stories of Kazuo Ishiguro, exploring how these outdated moral values and codes of conduct conflict with the post-war environments depicted in his narratives.
- The role of bushidō values in shaping the behavior of Ishiguro’s characters.
- The influence of traditional gender roles and domestic expectations on female characters.
- The symbolic use of suicide and ritual self-sacrifice as a means to restore or salvage honor.
- The complex power dynamics inherent in filial piety, teacher-student relationships, and loyalty to an employer.
- The intersection of self-control, emotional repression, and the maintenance of dignity.
- Ishiguro’s construction of "imaginary homelands" and the subversion of cultural stereotypes.
Excerpt from the Book
2.4.1. Filial Piety
There is something of a natural chronological order to the idea of loyalty as it is presented in most works on bushidō. According to that order, every samurai’s first master is his father. As such, the code of honor demands absolute loyalty to the parent, and loyalty means obedience, of course. Parent-child relationships play a significant role in many of Ishiguro’s works.
The first important confrontation between father and son takes place in An Artist of the Floating World. Ono proves himself to be completely unimpressed with the values his father tries to instill in him. As it is usual for him he defies samurai ethics. Ono’s father wishes for his son to take over the family business after him. In order to prepare his son, he forces Masuji to regularly take part in so-called “business meetings”. At some point the father learns that his son plans to become a professional artist; he is less than thrilled. What makes the following scene so important is that it achieves two things. Firstly, it establishes Ono’s character as an individualist who is not afraid of opposition and refuses to be bullied into obliging the unwritten rules of the society he lives in. Secondly, it is the first of three scenes which are linked by a specific motif and are all addressing the theme of loyalty in some fashion.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Discusses Ishiguro's connection to Japanese heritage and the prevalence of traditional values in his early works despite his English settings.
2. Samurai Ethics in the Novels of Kazuo Ishiguro: Provides a comprehensive overview of bushidō and examines how its virtues manifest in the lives of Ishiguro's characters.
2.1. Samurai Ethics – An Overview: Defines the term samurai ethics as synonymous with bushidō and highlights key virtues like justice, valor, and loyalty.
2.2. The Position of Woman – Ishiguro’s Female Characters: Analyzes the restricted, domestic roles of female characters and their struggles against patriarchal expectations.
2.3. Suicide: Explores the theme of ritual suicide as both a historical reality and a literary device to create tension and address honor.
2.4. The Duty of Loyalty: Investigates the multilayered manifestations of loyalty across different social and hierarchical relationships.
2.4.1. Filial Piety: Focuses on the conflict between parental expectations and individual autonomy in father-son relationships.
2.4.2. Teacher-Student relationship: Discusses the rigid, submissive nature of the teacher-student dynamic and the pressures of conformity.
2.4.3. Loyalty to the Master: Examines the total devotion to an employer, as exemplified by the butler Stevens.
2.4.4. Serving a Higher Purpose: Looks at how bushidō was reinterpreted to justify nationalism and emperor-worship in post-war Japan.
2.5. Self-Control: Discusses the suppression of emotion as a primary indicator of professionalism, dignity, and honor.
2.6. Ishiguro’s Imaginary Homeland(s): Analyzes how Ishiguro uses "location hunting" to construct idealized or mythical landscapes that support his narrative themes.
3. Conclusion: Summarizes how samurai ethics act as a mechanism for characters to evade self-reflection and personal accountability.
4. Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary literature referenced in the study.
Keywords
Kazuo Ishiguro, Samurai Ethics, Bushidō, Loyalty, Filial Piety, Ritual Suicide, Seppuku, Self-Control, Emotional Repression, Post-war Japan, Cultural Displacement, Literary Stereotypes, Teacher-Student Relationship, Professionalism, Individualism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this publication?
This work explores the presence of traditional Japanese samurai ethics, known as bushidō, in the novels of Kazuo Ishiguro, and how these values impact the behavior and self-perception of his characters.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers themes such as filial piety, loyalty to masters and employers, the suppression of emotions, the role of women, and the symbolic use of ritual suicide.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to understand how historical samurai ethics influence the characters in Ishiguro’s stories and how these characters utilize these codes as a defense mechanism or a means to justify their lives and decisions.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses literary analysis, comparative studies between primary texts and historical/cultural references (like the Hagakure and Nitobe’s Bushido), and thematic evaluation of character trajectories.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body systematically analyzes key bushidō virtues such as loyalty, duty, and self-control across various characters, focusing on specific relationships like teacher-student or father-son bonds.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Kazuo Ishiguro, Samurai Ethics, Bushidō, Loyalty, Seppuku, Emotional Repression, and Post-war Japan.
How does the author interpret the suicide motif in "A Family Supper"?
The author argues that Ishiguro uses the threat of ritual suicide in this story as a "trick" to play on Western readers' stereotypes about Japanese culture, ultimately subverting their expectations.
What role does the butler Stevens play in the discussion of loyalty?
Stevens is depicted as the ultimate personification of a loyal retainer, whose entire philosophy on life and his duty as a butler mirrors the samurai ideal of unquestioning obedience to one's master.
Why do the characters in "Never Let Me Go" accept their fate so placidly?
The work suggests that the clones' acceptance is a form of self-delusion and evasion, where they avoid questioning their grim reality in order to maintain a sense of normalcy and purpose in their limited time.
- Quote paper
- Lynn Bay (Author), 2010, Samurai Ethics in the Works of Kazuo Ishiguro, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/202938
