Shame is a fear that is ever present in our lives. Whether it is the shame we feel when we do poorly on a test, the fear we have of disappointing our parents, of not making a sports team, of not being accepted into the school of dreams. No matter what, the fear of being a failure, a disappointment, or in other words, shameful, is always there. When we experience the feeling of shaming ourselves, families or friends, we often are consumed with guilt and regret. However, that shame passes and we are able to continue our lives without a huge cloud of guilt hovering over us. In cultures that differ from that of the United States, shame is dealt with in a much different and in extreme way.
In the short story, 'A Family Supper', author Ishiguro describes how shame is dealt with in the Japanese culture. He begins with a brief overview on the fish called fugu- a Japanese delicacy that is extremely risky to prepare as it contains two 'poison sacks' that need to be gutted specifically and so that the deadly poison does not kill the fish's consumer. In proceeding with the story, it is important to understand that in many Asian cultures in particular, a person's entire life is consumed with the intense drive to bring honor to the family name, but also and equally intense fear to bring shame to it- this way of life is part of the Japanese culture. In the beginning of the story the narrator refers to his father as 'being very proud of his Samarai blood'. Back in the day when Japanese Samarai soldiers were 'active' and highly regarded, shame brought about by a Samaria was worse than death. Because of this, the shameful Samaria would slice his stomach open (much like slicing open the stomach of the fungi fish to remove its poison), letting all of his insides fall out as he bled to death. This fact is important to know because the narrator's father had a business that closed down, and his 'very honorable' business partner killed his whole family, and then himself by slicing open his stomach. It is clear by reading the story that shame is the worst thing you can cast upon yourself and your family in the Japanese culture, and that shame is so untolerated, that it drives people to the point of suicide.
As the story draws to an end, the narrator and his Father and sister conclude their family supper with a delicious fish. When asked what the fish was, the Father replies, 'just fish'. The story ends with the narrator and his Father sitting and talking, and the sister in the kitchen making tea. The reader never finds out if the Father was also so overcome by shame that he decided to kill himself and his family by feeding them the poisonus fugu.
In the short story, 'A Family Supper', author Ishiguro describes how shame is dealt with in the Japanese culture. He begins with a brief overview on the fish called fugu- a Japanese delicacy that is extremely risky to prepare as it contains two 'poison sacks' that need to be gutted specifically and so that the deadly poison does not kill the fish's consumer. In proceeding with the story, it is important to understand that in many Asian cultures in particular, a person's entire life is consumed with the intense drive to bring honor to the family name, but also and equally intense fear to bring shame to it- this way of life is part of the Japanese culture. In the beginning of the story the narrator refers to his father as 'being very proud of his Samarai blood'. Back in the day when Japanese Samarai soldiers were 'active' and highly regarded, shame brought about by a Samaria was worse than death. Because of this, the shameful Samaria would slice his stomach open (much like slicing open the stomach of the fungi fish to remove its poison), letting all of his insides fall out as he bled to death. This fact is important to know because the narrator's father had a business that closed down, and his 'very honorable' business partner killed his whole family, and then himself by slicing open his stomach. It is clear by reading the story that shame is the worst thing you can cast upon yourself and your family in the Japanese culture, and that shame is so untolerated, that it drives people to the point of suicide.
As the story draws to an end, the narrator and his Father and sister conclude their family supper with a delicious fish. When asked what the fish was, the Father replies, 'just fish'. The story ends with the narrator and his Father sitting and talking, and the sister in the kitchen making tea. The reader never finds out if the Father was also so overcome by shame that he decided to kill himself and his family by feeding them the poisonus fugu.
This topic fits into our society perfectly. If we do not fit in with a group of people, or they dont think we are "cool" enough for them we will change just to fit in so we do not have a life exile. We are also so afraid to show our true self because people will judge us, but you are you, there is no changing that. You never know people might like the real you.
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