Kiyoshi’s mother had always been frail and was always sick. This time it was different, her illness was so bad that Kiyoshi thought she was about to die. Besides being sick she was also too superstitious and pessimistic towards her life. On one occasion she said to Kiyoshi “A bad wife is fifty years of bad crops (16),” by which she meant to say that even though she was not a bad wife she had always had a bad luck in her life. She also believed that they are suffering for the sin they had not committed. She thought that if someone does wrong deed, they will suffer; in other word she believed in Karma. However, the karma they were suffering form was not their own, it was someone else’s sin they are being punished for. “We can get punished as the substitute (17),” in this conversation, Kiyoshi’s mother told him that it was someone close to them who had done something bad and instead of them, her family is being punished.
Obaban, Kiyoshi’s grandfather’s elder sister was very close with his family. She had helped Kiyoshi’s mother in many occasions. When his mother got sick, she was the first person Kiyoshi want to bring home. Obaban was spiritual but also quite superstitious like Kiyoshi’s mother. When Kiyoshi and Obaban was talking about bachi (punishment for wrong deeds which could also affect someone close to you instead), Obaban said “If she can find another substitute, then she’d be freed (20).” However, who knew that she was the one who was about to become the substitute for Kiyoshi’s mother. Few days after Obaban’s visit, Kiyoshi heard the news about her stroke. At that point Kiyoshi thought that Obaban has become the substitute for his mother and she has put an end to the cycle of bad luck in the family. The relief Kiyoshi felt when he heard it was Obaban who is dying of stroke not his mother was little inappropriate in the sense that Obaban was the closest one in his family. Instead of feeling sorrow, he felt joy at first. One ugly truth about our life is, we don’t even hesitate to sacrifice other for your loved one no matter how generous they had been to you. Kiyoshi became quite selfish at this moment and believed that Obaban was the perfect substitute for his mother as she was too old and there are not much people who are going to miss her. He also remarked that a family will be happy only if death takes place chronologically form elder to younger members of the family. Here, Obaban was the elder one, so Kiyoshi did not lament much for her. Instead of lamentation he said “I’d assumed Obaban was dead, I’d wanted her dead, just to be mother’s substitute (24).”
Hi Sujan,
ReplyDeleteYour point about Kiyoshi's selfishness is great! If we think about it, he's wishing for the death of someone else in order to spare his mother's life and to spare himself the grief.
Also, your point about karma is insightful, especially the critical difference in Mrs. Oyama's perspective. In her view, retribution isn't individualistic; karma affects individuals, while her notion of bachi is communal. This term definitely provides a glimpse of her worldview and the way she sees the connection between families.
Thanks for your insights.
Take care,
Lauren
Hello Sujan,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely liked how you went into so much detail to provide evidence of why Kiyoshi believed Obaban was his mothers substitute. What you said is very true for many people when they find out a loved one extremely close to them is about to die. They may wish for someone else to be sacrificed in place for their loved ones, and the selfless ones would wish to take them versus the loved one. I think it is great to be superstitious at is something that is passed on as a culture, but as the years go on, the kids may not believe on all the superstition but will hold some superstition dear to their hearts. My mom is extremely superstitious for so many things and I believe because of how superstitious she is, my brother and I did not really get into those beliefs. There are a few though that scare us so we just make sure to avoid anything that could give us any bad vibes.
Only a couple of more weeks and we are done! Wish you the best for the remainder of this class and your future classes.
-Jaime Rivera
I agree that Kiyoshi thinks Obaban is the substitute for Kiyoshi's mother. The quotes you added to the response are great and really support your point of view. I too think that Kiyoshi's reaction to hearing Obaban having a stroke was selfish. Kiyoshi thought that Obaban was the best choice because she is the oldest. What would be interesting is be able to hear what Kiyoshi's mother thinks about Obaban having a stroke and she feeling better. Would she feel bad or happy?
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