In this reflective statement, try to focus on just one or two of your classmates' orals. Comments on the artwork and connections to the novel would be particularly appropriate. Since you have read the novel, you might think about what you'd like your "supervised writing" to be about. Think "early draft" if you possibly can. . . .
LH: Wonderful Fool is the first Japanese novel that I have read; therefore, the interactive orals helped me understand some elements of Japanese culture present in the novel. From the beginning of the novel, it is evident that Takamori is a slacker in some regards; he wakes up late, he tries to avoid responsibilities at home, and he has an inferiority complex with his sister. Takamori does not give a great impression in comparison to his sister; he has a lower salary and is always borrowing money from her. I was unaware that he would be known as a “salaryman” in Japan, reducing him to a simple white male who prioritizes work but who is also anti-competitive, lacks initiative and is unoriginal. The salaryman is also renowned for his binge drinking and karaoke. Takamori often stays out late with his colleagues drinking and during the daytime looking for girls. It was interesting to note this distinction between the diligence of the salaryman and yet his lack of initiative and the negative connotation it carries. Workers such as Takamori have no real interest in their jobs, and that is where the negative reputation is created, which is then heightened by the drinking and bad habits. Takamori appears even worse because of the constant comparison to his sister Tomoe, who appears perfect. Tomoe is naturally proactive, deciding to study Italian when most studied French, therefore guaranteeing herself employment. She also works overtime and goes out with her colleagues, but her approach to her job certainly seems distinct from her brother’s. Tomoe states that for Japanese girls it would be ridiculous to live as Gelsomina, in La Strada with no account for profit or loss in life. This comment seems very arrogant and narrow-minded especially considering that Gelsomina is mentally retarded and therefore has limited opportunities as well as a different perspective on life. Shusaku Endo is probably mocking Tomoe and her prudishness, as if from Takamori’s perspective, since he is irritated by her precision and her air of superiority. Before the interactive oral I thought Takamori was a typical young worker who simply was not fully dedicated to his job; I did not understand that he belonged to a group (salarymen) who often share his pattern of professionalism combined with social drinking and a real lack of upward mobility. This concept has helped me understand his character and therefore his relationships, especially that with his sister.
ReplyDeleteSC: In the character of Gelsomina, the Italian film La Strada provides a perfect parallel to Gaston’s carefree yet childish mentality throughout “Wonderful Fool.” It was interesting to see how casually the film is mentioned in the novel, and ironically not even in reference to Gaston. Takamori insinuates that Tomoe should act more like the naïve, seemingly stupid Gelsomina. Her normal personality is completely the opposite: planned, careful, serious and responsible. In Tomoe’s eyes, both Gelsomina and Gaston are considered “fools,” hence the connection to the title.
ReplyDeleteI began to contemplate the meaning of the word fool when describing Gaston. A “Wonderful Fool,” i.e. Gaston and Gelsomina, should be appreciated in the strict, uniform culture of Japan. They are original and quirky, not silly or unintelligent. Those who take on monotony and routine as a way of life receive less gratifying experiences than Gelsomina and Gaston. Those who are quick to forgive and assume an optimistic outlook on life often are led through more exciting adventures. Tomoe’s issue with this idea is the fact that Gelsomina is left with no plan once Zampano abandons her in the film, similar to the way Gaston chooses to roam haphazardly relying solely on the kindness of others−a rather expensive and rare currency. While Tomoe is correct, of course, she also lacks spontaneity. This is what repels yet later attracts her to Gaston as she eventually develops feelings for this “wonderful fool”. Although their love is based on the cliché expression that “opposites attract”, it truly shows how Tomoe needs something out of the ordinary to open her eyes to the beauty of a world without limitations (which she usually imposes on herself).
A goal like the elusive one Gaston has in “Wonderful Fool” is infinitely more rewarding than any paycheck Tomoe receives. Ultimately, in my mind it is better to be a “fool” roaming around with no to-do list but rather an emotional goal. While the lifestyle of Tomoe and people like her is easier, it is also dull and unsatisfactory. Given the choice, I would always choose to surround myself with “wonderful fools” and deplore a world that criticizes their relaxed demeanor.
FM: Through the interactive orals, I have come to appreciate another reality and purpose of Shusaku Endo’s book Wonderful Fool. At first, I considered his work to be the spiritual journey of a Christ-like character whose apparent foolishness and uninterested love for others inspires them for the better. I was only noticing, however, one small portion of the spectrum. What I didn’t recognize was the profound element of culture clash present in the novel. Gaston Bonaparte, as a representative of France and in general of a European and westernized world, enters in fact a flourishing post WW2 Japan that still displays high mistrust of foreigners. As a consequence, Gaston often comes to offend Japanese culture, but only because of ignorance. Later, the concept of ignorance and mistrust becomes a fundamental part of the book, as Endo wants to show the cold and aggressive attitude of Japanese people towards the unknown. However, Wonderful Fool is not just a social critique of Japanese society, but it is also a reflection of Endo’s personal life experiences.
ReplyDeleteAs stated in the interactive orals, Shusaku Endo, a Japanese Christian who suffered greatly for his religious beliefs, moved in his early adulthood to France in order to pursue his studies. In France, however, he suffered great discrimination, as he lacked the knowledge of French culture. In addition the outbreak of WW2 spread fear of Japanese people in Europe. Wonderful Fool is therefore a book about the discovery of human nature, a somber discovery, as Endo proves that, no matter the place, human nature is mistrustful and often evil. As presented in the interactive orals, however, there are some people who are able to break cultural barriers, like Gaston.
SN: Learning about the salarymen and career women in Japan was rather helpful for my understanding of the novel Wonderful Fool by Shusuku Endo, since it allowed me to further comprehend Takamori’s and Tomoe’s personalities and their way of life prior to their adventure with Gaston. Both Takamori and Tomoe possess several of the traits associated with the stereotypical image that has been established of such corporate workers, which in some cases is somewhat degrading. However, even though at the beginning of the novel Tomoe and Takamori seem to be the typical corporate workers whose lives revolve around their work and who are not very happy, they undergo changes (or at least show glimpses of being willing to pursue a happier way of life, simply by trying a different approach) throughout the book due to the positive effect that Gaston has on their lives.
ReplyDeleteInitially, Tomoe seems like a rather cold and excessively hardworking person, who expects a hero to appear in her life and sweep her off her feet (even though she denies it) but who is missing out on truly enjoying her life because she is under the false impression that money will make her happiest. Likewise, Takamori also seems to lead an unhappy life due to his lack of initiative and desire, which is probably why he spends all his money on getting drunk with his work colleague, Iijima, and as a result constantly owes people (his sister included) money. Is it worth spending one’s life working and not being happy? This is one of the critiques that Endo includes in the novel, with which he somewhat condemns the salarymen/career women and their way of life. Besides, through Gaston, Endo demonstrates that even a fool is capable of experiencing and enjoying life (by finding beauty in the little things) more than the salarymen and career women. By the end of the novel, Takamori appears to have had an epiphany that will set him on a different course in his life as he recognizes the numerous possibilities available for him to be happier. Consequently, it is clear that through Wonderful Fool Endo intends to criticize the lifestyle that a vast amount of Japan’s population had chosen at the time. Overall, learning about the topic gave me an understanding of this theme, which allowed me to comprehend the change in Tomoe’s and Takamori’s personalities to a greater extent.
VC: The interactive orals presented in class helped me in my understanding of the novel Wonderful Fool by Shusaku Endo. The interactive oral that most helped me understand an important part of the novel was the oral on " Momotarō (Peach Boy)” and “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter” presented by Maria. This was extremely helpful since it is not quite explained in the novel and both times the tale was alluded to I were somewhat confusing. “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter” is a Japanese folk tale about a bamboo cutter and his wife who discover in a bamboo grove a baby, who turns out to be Princess Kaguya, a citizen of the moon who was banished and sent to live with them. The love and happiness that was provided by the princess and the family was something special and memorable in this tale. Although the arrival of Gaston, another unexpected visitor, makes Tomoe and Takamori unhappy and uneasy at first, they soon realize that he makes them happy, since he teaches them something new and nurtures love between them. I realized that this novel makes connections to the folklore, making Gaston the princess of Kaguya and Tomoe and Takamori like the bamboo cutter and his wife. The tale is even mentioned in the book on page 165, when Gaston and Takamori are looking at the stars: "Takamori was suddenly reminded of The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Princess Kaguya was said to have come down to the earth from the moon. Hadn't Gaston, perhaps, come from the stars? Wouldn’t he be returning there one day? To Takamori in his present mood it all seemed very possible." Takamori thinks that Gaston was sent to his house for a purpose just like the princess was in the tale, and now that Takamori has learned the importance of love Gaston will leave them and return to his home or wherever he descended from.
ReplyDeleteAnother Japanese folk tale that has thematic significance to the novel (though it is not overtly mentioned) is Momotarō, which is about a woman and her husband who find a peach in the river and when she's about to eat it a boy pops out, sent from heaven to be their son. He goes on a mission to scare Ogres away and achieves this with the help of his new companions, a dog, a monkey and a bird. What I got from the oral was the connection between the book and the folklore: Gaston is a heroic figure (despite his awkward ugliness) sent to the house for a purpose just like the Momotarō. Another connection is how Gaston also befriends a dog just like Momotarō does on his route. Overall all of the orals were a very good at helping us as a class to understand the in-depth topics that arise in the novel, but Maria's was particularly helpful in my further understand of Wonderful Fool.
AK: An important aspect that developed my understanding of “Wonderful Fool” is the stereotypes that the Japanese had and have within their culture. Two of them captured my attention: stereotypes of salarymen and of foreigners. First of all, the common views on ‘salarymen,’ or men whose incomes are salary-based, are ironically demonstrated by Tomoe and not Takamori. Throughout the novel, Tomoe’s man-like characteristics are revealed, and because of this it seems that she is manlier than her brother. She is the one who earns more money, is more intelligent, independent and even more active in the stock market than her brother. Most of the time, Takamori is the one who depends on his sister to pay for the food, taxi, etc. and not vice versa. Knowing that the majority of Japanese women of the time stayed home and did the household chores, it was remarkable that Tomoe’s position in the family contradicts this common idea. However, in some ways, Takamori does conform to the stereotype of salaryman. He works at a bank six days a week and hardly gets any rest, while at the same time he binge-drinks with his coworkers. He also seems to lack initiative and competitiveness, and he appears to feel forced to work.
ReplyDeleteThere were also stereotypical views on foreigners, as Japan was an isolated country until 1853. The Japanese underwent isolation for centuries, only opening four gateways, and this caused them to lack knowledge about and created stereotypes of foreigners. These views continue to remain in the Japanese mind, as demonstrated in the novel, which takes place in the 1950’s. An example is the Higaki family’s initial attitude towards Gaston’s unexpected visit. In the beginning of the novel, Shosuke, who works for the Higaki family, claims that “foreigners eat nothing but meat” (pg. 28). This is clearly an exaggeration and especially the not case for Gaston, because he appreciates whatever is given to him. Overall, understanding these stereotypes made the story more interesting, giving me insight into the characters’ motivations.
TC: After reading Wonderful Fool by Shusaku Endo, learning some Japanese background to the novel contributed significantly to my understanding of the text. Reading for the first time, without this background, it is possible to misinterpret or picture scenes in different ways than as intended by the author. Takamori is a very important character in the novel. Thus, learning more about him and his nature is essential for a better understanding of the plot. Presentations that focused strongly on the character of Takamori were the one about the Salaryman and the one about Takamori Saigo, the last samurai. These two presentations helped me understand Takamori’s identity in a Japanese context.
ReplyDeleteI have learned that the term “Salaryman” is a stereotypical notion formed in Japan to describe those who receive a salary-based income, which used to make up the majority of the population. The term is often used to refer to those men who only think about work, spend all of their days wearing a suit and tie, sitting in a little cubicle, doing the same kinds of tasks their entire lives. They never strive for something new, something different. These characteristics can be easily observed in Takamori, who works at a bank, and though salarymen usually have little education, Takamori was smart and went beyond high school, completing a bachelor’s degree. Associating Takamori with a salaryman may explain the reason for his lack of competitiveness, his unoriginality, and his drinking issues, as salarymen stereotypically enjoy drinking, golfing, and playing mahjong.
Furthermore, learning about Takamori Saigo, the last samurai, was very useful to contrasting the hero to the character in the novel and pointing out their differences, contributing to my greater understanding of Takamori’s personality. A samurai is part of an elite group of warriors who served the shoguns and daimyos. They were considered property of their lords and followers of the Bushido, the samurai code on conduct. Saigo is honored as the last samurai and has become an iconic and extremely important figure in the history of Japan for striving to preserve the samurai class and fighting to protect his spiritual life. He lived during the Edo Period, from 1603 to 1877. In postwar Japan, the Takamori in the novel is completely different from Takamori Saigo. As seen in the novel, his name is a problem. He was named after Takamori Saido to evoke some of the hero’s qualities: however, the name does not create the actuality and Takamori was nothing more than a simple and typical salaryman. Moreover, Takamori also adversely compares to the last samurai as he lacks any of Saigo’s qualities.
By knowing that Takamori is the opposite of Saigo it is possible to draw a better picture of him in my mind, especially when knowing that he is also a typical salaryman who enjoys drinking, lacks competitiveness and proceeds to go on his daily routine, wearing his suit and tie to work at the bank. All of this proves Takamori to be a weak and conformed character, rather than a prominent character, thus highlighting the important transformation he undergoes because of his interaction with Gaston, the “wonderful fool.”
APA: Though all the interactive oral presentations increased my comprehension of Shusaku Endo's Wonderful Fool, the presentation on Japan's salarymen particularly helped me understand the characters of Tomoe and Takamori. A salaryman in Japan is similar to a busines man in Western culture; it refers to a man whose income is salary-based and who works for a corporation. Nevertheless, this term is not freely applicable to just any workers with a salary, but specifically represents white-collar workers. Associated with the traits of unoriginality, overwork and a lack of leadership skills and competitiveness, the term salary man holds a somewhat negative connotation. In Wonderful Fool, Takamori is the example of a salaryman, another insignificant cog in a frigid and apathetic corporation. Towards the beginning of the novel, Takamori exhibits typical salaryman behavior: he has a strict work schedule ("Takamori...worked six days a week at a bank…") and lacks initiative ("A man among men? Takamori who slept all hours of the morning? Who constantly tapped his sister for spending-money?"). Tomoe represents the salary man’s counterpart, the career woman. Unlike a "classical Japanese maiden of antiquity", Tomoe is "strong-minded, shrewd" and actively involved in the stock market. However, after the introduction of Gaston in their lives, Tomoe and Takamori begin to deviate from the stereotypical images of a salary man and career woman, respectively. Gaston Bonaparte, a "wonderful fool" without a set direction in his life, employment or a "calculation of profit and loss," appears to enjoy life and appreciate its beauty. Perhaps, Endo undertakes a bit of social criticism in his novel to point out the flaws in salary men. By being so wrapped up in the business world, both Tomoe and Takamori at times lose sight of the value of the small details in life; through Takamori, Endo asserts that “Tokyo shrinks people’s hearts.”
ReplyDeleteMG: Wonderful Fool is a very interesting book, but it is a little hard to understand for one unaccustomed to Japanese culture and influences. One oral that really helped me in my understanding of Wonderful Fool was the interactive oral on the Japanese economy after WWII. Being a historically inclined person, orals that help me understand the history and how the people felt, especially in what is now known as the Japanese Economic Miracle, are very important. The novel takes place soon after the near total destruction of Japan during WWII, and then during the Japanese economic boom during and after the Korean War. This was a time of great expansion and a time in which the societal roles of woman changed, taking jobs and being less inclined to be housewives. It was also a time in which the term “salary man” came into use.
ReplyDeleteThe oral on the salary man was also key to my understanding of Wonderful Fool because understanding this term and trope in Japanese society helped me understand Takamori’s character much better. Knowing this trope helps me understand the point behind Takamori’s character. They are meant to be the classically known white collar worker, who work all the time but does not care for his job particularly, as well as drinking all the time, as is stereotypical of the salary man. Takamori seems to be the conventional salary man down to the letter. Now that I understand this term, it makes it much easier to know what Takamori might do, and it is more interesting as Takamori changes through the course of the book. By the end of the book he seems to break this connotation, being less focused on work, drinking less, and not going out with his coworkers as much. Understanding the economic history behind Japan at the time as well as understanding the Japanese stereotype of the salary man was very important to my comprehension of Wonderful Fool.
ST: Japanese culture has always intrigued me, mainly because of its unique comics such as the anime and manga series. The Japanese have always found a way to attract my curiosity. Ever since I watched the movie The Last Samurai, every famous haiku I read or every anime episode I watched always impressed me due to their deep philosophical approach to life. In each of these interactive oral presentations I also found another aspect of Japanese society that was something I did not know beforehand, which enhanced my understanding of its culture as well as of the novel Wonderful Fool. I always had this idea that the Japanese were wise folk known for their intelligence and patience, which in my mind gave them the aura of an old sensei full of life-changing quotes; this was until I heard about the stereotypical notion of the Japanese salary man in the 1930’s, which referred to the typical Japanese male office worker as diligent, unoriginal and even excessive drinkers. Of course this is just a stereotype, but every stereotype tends to have some truth in its base for it to have been created and sustained; therefore, my image of the Japanese was slightly degraded for a moment. Then later once I was told of the amazing job that the country went through to rise out of the ashes and restore itself to its former glory after WWII, its image in my mind was polished again enough so it looked like it had never been damaged in the first place.
ReplyDeleteOverall these interactive oral presentations regarding Wonderful Fool contributed to educating me on the culture of Japan and by doing this improving my understanding of the novel by Shusaku Endo; however, the characterization of Gaston and Endo in the novel was a unique trait that I haven’t seen in many other works of literature. Both of these characters have their own obvious personalities, but Endo has his own history of being a mercenary for the Yakuza; he is not just a soulless human that Shusaku Endo put in as a prop to make the novel scarier. Furthermore Gaston, despite his foolishness and naïve nature, plays an important role in Takamori and Tomoe’s lives as he has other qualities that other people don’t have, such as an extreme forgiving and benevolent character that is more related to a saint than anything else. The characterization is impressive because it shows the black and white and grey nuances of characters, not only one side of them that depicts them as solely bad or solely good.
MV: Wonderful Fool is a refreshing novel reminding us of the importance of love and trust for others. Although Endo effectively manages to get his theme across, there were many details that I did not comprehend as I was reading the novel but that were clarified by some of the interactive orals.
ReplyDeleteLearning about the Japanese household was very useful as it allowed me to understand the effect that Gaston had on Tomoe and Takamori. When reading the book, I did not comprehend why it was so important for Tomoe to take care of Gaston, an uninvited guest, when he seemed to annoy her a great deal. However by learning about the importance of hospitality for the Japanese, I was able to understand why Tomoe felt impelled to treat Gaston well. With the help of the interactive oral about the Japanese household, I was able to understand the impact that Gaston had upon Tomoe and Takamori by disturbing their usual routine.
With the help of my own research I was able to understand the references to”Tthe Tale of the Bamboo Cutter” in Wonderful Fool. It was very interesting to see how both Gaston and The Princess are very similar in that they both come from a faraway place and both have an effect on the people they encounter. Gaston seems to be the Christ-figure of the novel; everybody he meets changes one way or another, even one of the most “dangerous” characters: Endo. Both the Princess and Gaston have to go back home; however, they become very valuable to those they leave behind. The reference to “The Tale” adds cultural richness to the novel: while Japanese culture has a Buddhist rather than a Christian tradition, the ideal of a heaven-sent helper is fully present in “The Tale of the Bamboo Keeper .”
Both interactive orals were very helpful when it came to understanding the characters’ actions as well as the thematic intentions of the author. This novel is very representative of Japan, as well as Shusaku Endo’s distinctive outsider perspective on his own culture, and as a result of the above-mentioned presentations, I gained a deeper understanding of the novel.