Close Friends And Stephen Sense Of Peace example essay topic

Gail Tsukiyama's The Samurai's Garden is set in 1930's Japan, the theme of war and peace is developed through Character interaction. Characters in the story have very different reactions to the same circumstances. Through the character of Stephen, one can conclude that outside forces do not control a person's life because in life, people can take what has been given to them and do with it what they wish. In other words, life is what you make of it. Even though the war in China is very important to Stephen, he does not let it interfere with his decisions in Tarumi. Despite his situation, Stephen is able to separate the good from the bad and his experiences benefit him greatly.

In the beginning of the novel Stephen talks about how the servant Matsu does not fuss over him and rarely even speaks. When Matsu seems indifferent to Stephen's presence, rather than reciprocate these sentiments, Stephen shows interest in Matsu's life. Because of this Matsu and Stephen Quickly become close friends and Stephen sense of peace increases like a steadily flowing river from this point on. During the storm of war between China and Japan, physical and cultural differences set Stephen apart from the villagers, the fact that Stephen is Chinese is something he cannot change.

Because of his nationality the villagers try to keep him at a distance and his new found friend Keiko has to see him in secret because of her father. The more Stephen and Keiko meet, the closer they become, and the more Stephen's sense of peace grows. Being Chinese and living in Japan could have proved to be a problem. As Stephen learns more about Matsu, the Japanese push closer to Hong Kong, but Stephen's optimism about his circumstances makes his experience a pleasant one. Later on in the story, Matsu decides to take Stephen up to Yamaguchi, the village of the lepers.

Stephen is at first nervous about this trip, but loosens when he meets Sachi. Sachi was the best friend of Matsu's sister Tomoko. Ever since Sachi was infected with the disease of leprosy, her and Matsu have become close friends, even lovers. Sachi's illness could have been her end, but true to her character, she perseveres. When Matsu's garden is destroyed in the storm, Sachi says, "It's nothing that can't be replaced. (56) " As a woman who was dependent on her beauty, contracting a disease like leprosy was a devastating blow.

Sachi, unlike Tomoko before her, realized that life as a leper was better than no life at all. She chose to live rather than have self-pity for what she had lost. Also, by allowing Matsu into her life, she gained a friend she so desperately needed, and when she and Stephen were introduced, they became quick friends. Whenever something goes wrong in Stephen's life, She is one of the first people to hear about it. Likewise, Stephen also goes to her when she is feeling depressed or having a problem. They are there for each other like true friends and whenever Stephen visits her he feels more at peace.

Sachi became a better person because of her disease. Now, she is loved for her strength and wisdom, not just for her beauty. Fate has no real control over our lives, we do. In Stephen's story, fate takes on the roll of the tumultuous war in China.

The storm of war presented Stephen with burdens and setbacks and Stephen dealt with them to the best of his ability and at the same time felt an ever-increasing sense of peace in the beautiful Japanese village of Tarumi. The worse the war gets in China, the more serene Stephen's vacation became. Like the damming of a river, the more water builds up on one side the lower the water on the other side becomes. The dam represents Stephens life, with the dam itself as Stephen and the side with the high water level being the war in China and the lower water level representing the quiet town of Tarumi.

Tsukiyama, Gail. The Samurai's Garden. New York: St. martin's Griffin, 1994.