Final Thoughts on Narratives

           Life in the modern world is a paradox in which hope and despair exist side by side nearly everywhere we turn.  On a global scale, the Western World is a flourishing mecca of price tags and possibilities, while the rest of the international scene is either playing catch up, or falling further into chaos.  On the national level, America seems to be shedding past impediments with greater enthusiasm than has been seen in over three decades.  We are approaching an age where the first American of African descent, or the first woman, stands a serious chance of becoming the President of the United States.  Such inspirational precedents are, however, overshadowed by rising unemployment, overwhelming numbers of home foreclosures, sky-rocketing oil prices, the decreasing value of the dollar, a diminishing reputation abroad and discontent over the continuation of two very serious military engagements.  Even on a local level, here, in the beautiful city of Chico, hope and hopelessness exist parallel to one another.  In a city were education and enlightened thought are cornerstones of the local reputation, on any given school day, the streets are filled with students rushing off to classes as they try to avoid disturbing the publicized seclusion of the homeless population.  All of these examples demonstrate the contradicting state of our ever shrinking world.  A world where so many are privilaged, while even more are impoverished.  In the face of such contradiction, many of the privilaged have felt a profound sense of duty to aid our international brothers and sisters in need.  Others have heard the call for help in their own countries and communities and have chosen to answer.  Many others are still searching for a way to contribute as well.  In any case, individuals looking to maintain a sense of responsibility as a "citizen of the floating world" must always understand that state of mind is of the utmost importance.  We cannot reach out to others if we cannot view them first as beings of our same nature.  We must always try to remember that their struggles are also our own.

                 Throughout the course of the semester, our class literature has been centered around the concept of the floating world and what it means to be a responsible citizen within it.  While every author presented offered extensive insight into the topic at hand, two in particular seemed to really center in on the idea that the first step toward making any kind of a difference in this world for the better begins with the internal.  Both Kazuo Ishiguro, the author of An Artist of the Floating World, and Bharati Mukherjee, the author of Jasmine, present stories of individuals who must come to terms with issues of past trials and transgressions, identity,heratige, exceptance and national pride.  Each story is quite unique, but they both offer strong statements about the importance of looking beyond what we so easily see on the surface.

                In Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, An Artist of the Floating World, we are presented with the story of an old man, Masuji Ono, living in post World War II Japan.  A once great artist of beautiful imagery turned propagandist, Ono now finds himself in a very different Japan than the one he so willingly devoted his art to as a young man.  Ono is faced with one obstacle after another, but through his troubles, whether they be assuring his daughter a marriage, dealing with the social taboos attributed to his past career moves, understanding the westernized mannerisms of his grandson, or coming to terms with the changes that have conquered his community, Ono finally finds contentment with his past and learns to accept the fact that his home will forever be different than what it was.  In the end, Ono optimistically embraces the future of the country to which he is so devoted.

               Ono is a character that represents internal conflict.  On one hand, he refuses to face the notion that any of his past actions are worthy of negetive associations, but on the other, he is very aware of the fact that his past decisions are the reason his daughter has trouble finding marriage. Early in the novel, Ono discusses the purchasing process of his estate.  As he speaks of the character requirements for the transaction, he states, "How so much more honourable is such a contest, in which one's moral conduct and achievement are brought as witness rather than the size of ones purse" (10).  This statement is intruiging, because it represents the dramatic irony of his situation, considering his background as an imperial informant.  It also raises the question as to whether Ono truly was worthy, overall, of such a blessed purchase.  Ono made some errors in judgement, but should this imply that past mistakes constitute as overall character?  Another important statement is made at the end of the book when Ono says, "I feel a certain nostalgia for the past and the district as it used to be.  But to see how our city has been rebuilt . . . Our nation, it seems, whatever mistakes it may have made in the past, has now another chance to make a better go of things" (206).  Again, the dramatic irony of this statement shines through for a character like Ono.  Like the city, Ono too is capable of putting his past where it belongs and embrace the future as a new beginning.  The underlining message is that we too, as citizens of a global community, can resolve our guilt for the historical atrocities of the past and fufill that nostalgic longing for the "good ole days" by embracing the future and working to make it live up to its imagined potential. 

               Another author who offers an interesting perspective on the responsibilities of the citizen of the floating world is Bharati Mukherjee.  In her novel, Jasmine, readers are presented with a woman whose past is far reaching.  From a young girl living in a small farming village in India with little to no chance of anything beyond, to the pregnant girlfriend of an Iowan farmer, "Jasmine" experiences one life altering trial after another that transforms her persona until she completes a full circle return to a simple life in farm country. By the end of the novel, Jasmine is once again compelled to uplift her settling roots and move on, but the message behind her story is one of vision into a world most rarely have the privilage of seeing.  Jasmine endures, isolation, stereotypes, the tragic death of loved ones and even a brutal rape on her first night in the United States.  Her story is extremely tragic, but it is a powerful portrayal of the American immagrant experience and worthy of observation. 

             In relating this novel to responsibilities of the floating world citizen, it seems important to emphasize the role fate plays within it.  When Jasmine first begins telling her story, she recalls an encounter she once had as a little girl with a local holy man. After giving her an unwelcome prophacy of her future, she denounces his words as rubbish. The Shaman replies by saying, "Fata is fate.  When Behula 's bridegroom was fated to die of snakebite on their wedding night, did building a steel fortress prevent his death? A magic snake will penetrate solid walls when necessary" (4).  This saying speaks a universal message about excepting some things that cannot be changed.  For Jasmine, a great deal of her life's journey is aimed at trying to escape fate rather than building a future.  As she says early on, "I know what I don't want to become" (5).  Jasmine's lesson to readers is, no matter how far we run, fate will find us in some form; "magic snakes" will find a way in. Better to focuse on the things we can change, rather than those we can't.  Another important observation to be made from this novel is the very real sense of displacement an immagrant feels from their homeland in order to assimilate to a new culture.  At one point in the story, Jasmine says, "Once we start letting go- let go just one thing, like not wearing our normal clothes, or a turban or not wearing a tika on the forehead- the rest goes on its own down the sinkhole . . . We murder ourselves in the images of dreams" (29).  As a person who has never really experienced anything remotely close to the situation described in this quote, it is humbling to try and internalize what it must be like for individuals in such positions.  That is the point, in my opinion, of this novel; to show readers what another persons life can consist of. Not only the life of a person half a world away, but also the life of the woman next door.

             During the course of this semester, we have been asked to look beyond our own comfort zones to witness the world around us.  We, as students and privilaged Americans, have been given an opprotunity to contemplate the connection that exists between those we are closest to and those that are furthest from our thoughts.  Evidence has been presented that suggests when the developed world is willing to take on an active role in reaching out to the developing world, good things can truly come of it.  The subalterns of the world can be heard when they are given the chance. It all begins with a state of mind. On a concluding note,  Dr. Rob Burton's book states, " it is important to recognize the importance of words as carriers of cultural meaning" (132).  I could not agree more.  While I firmly support anyones right to say anything they choose, I feel credibility and integrity, which are essential tools for a floating citizen, are more easily gained when words are taken into consideration.  In conclusion, anyone who has the pleasure of reading this, remember, there is only one planet.  We should do what we can to make it a great one.  It all starts with a state of mind...