4th A-B: New Assignment for JULY 2009

Dear all

I am sending you a new assignment based on your reading of Kazuo Ishiguro's "A Family Supper". This assignment must be submitted by Friday, August 10th.

I would like you to go back to the short story and concentrate on the following aspects:

1) The conflict across generations:
1.1) Father and son (remember that the father fought in WWII, whereas the son went to live in California, USA, the country that defeated Japan in 1945).
1.2) Father and Kikuko: traditionally, Japanese women were expected to be submissive, silent, obedient and loyal. They were not supposed to study or work outside the house. Their marriages were arranged by their fathers and they were completely controlled by the male figures of their families: father, brother, husband. How conventional is Kikuko as a young Japanese woman? How aware is the father of this fact?
1.3) The question of suicide: how do the different characters see suicide, especially Watanabe-san's suicide? Watanabe-san killed his own family as well: is this relevant in the story you are reading?
1.4) The mother: the narrator's father suggests that the mother also committed suicide. Why is that?
1.5) The model battleships: the father is very fond of making miniatures of battleships. What do you think that shows about the father and the importance that the war has for him? How does this fact contribute to the conflict across generations?

2) Light and darkness: how do light and darkness operate in the novel, especially at the very end? How can this be understood metaphorically?

3) The ending: what do you think happens at the end of the story? Support your claim with a relevant quotation and your own comments.

4) The title of the story: how do you interpret the title? Is it ironic in any way?

5) Regardless of nationalities, what do you think is the main theme of the story? Provide a relevant QUOTATION that supports your claim.

6) You do not need to answer this question, but I would like you to think about the old woman by the well, and why she looks so similar to the mother. This is a rather enigmatic and confusing bit of the story, to which we will go back once we meet again.

Remember to submit your work by August 10th to my gmail account: danieruferreyra@gmail.com

Stay healthy and strong
Regards

Daniel Ferreyra