Question 23
It is common for people to apply the meaning of the writer and the author interchangeably. However, these two words can be used to derive two different meanings. A writer is considered as a person who writes articles, books, or any other literary work. On the other hand, an author is a person who essentially comes up with the idea, content of the plot of a piece of work to be written. But indeed both words can be used to represent the same person. In other words, the author is a person who uses piece of literary work to express their own ideas and thoughts. For instance, David Guterson expresses his deep love of the island that he lives as an island illustrated in the Snow Falling on Cedars.
Since, Guterson has written a novel founded on a plot developed by him, he can be considered as an author. A writer writes a novel or a short story that is based on someone else’s story or an idea and that makes the work of the writer easier than that of the author. The “Snow Falling on Cedar” describes how San Piedro resident lived and interacted with each other. Although the San Piedro is fictional word, this is the island that Guterson lived. So he had the whole plot of the way people from the island lived.
Guterson can also be regarded as an author because his piece of work has been published and distributed to the public. This is because the author cannot be considered as an author if their book is published even if they purely own the idea. Once the book has been published and reached the public, considering that the book contain the writers idea, the writer is recognized as author.
Question 24
Ishmael Chambers’ love towards Hatsue, Miyamoto’s wife, is amazing. Ishmael had participated in World War II in which they lost. After losing, he feels that the only other thing that he would wish to have is to get a wife and settle. His choice landed on Hatsue. His love towards Hatsue is not just love but romantic love. Many a times he thinks of how wonderful his love and Hatsue will be. He even goes ahead and takes time to meditate the romantic relationship. They managed to keep the relationship for so long without Miyamoto’s knowledge. It started when they were young and when they kissed in the boat, Hatsue really felt it. When Hatsue finally rejects Ishmael, he is heartbroken and actually feels that he has missed a lot. He perceives the rejection as a racial prejudice and ends wishes if only facts could decide the fate on an individual’s life. Hatsue considers losing Hatsue as the biggest misfortune.
Question 25
I will never forget the first day that we met under the cedar. You are quite aware that I loved you from the beginning. In a world full of anticipation and adventure every time I saw you, my heart skipped a bit and animation came over me. I gave all that I had to you; love and life. Nonetheless it could not work, just because I’m not Japanese. It hurts to say so but it is true that our entire society is full of prejudices. I vividly recall the letter that you once sent to me. Particularly this one line,” I don't love you, Ishmael”. I did not take it easy bearing in mind that I had given up sleep to see you and spent time with you. I won’t blame my going to war as a reason as to why you rejected me. May be god did not create you for me.
However, it is all over now. You made your choice; I’m yet to make mine. I find it hard to go without you. You are all that I had. But, you chose another man. With a broken heart, love on my sleeve and that smile on your face, it’s hard to forget you angel. Vacuum still remains in my heart. May God protect you till we meet again.
Question 26
Court finally decides on Carl’s murder case and issues a verdict
Investigation into the cause of Carl Heine’s death was conducted in an amateur manner. Dr Sergeant and maples assume that the blood found on the gaff is Carl’s simply because it is a rare type. Their evidence is insubstantial and circumstantial. The investigation did not take into account all the possible causes of Carl’s death. While in the court room, the entire crowd assumes that Kabuo’s look evidently indicated that he was responsible for the murder. Though Carl’s death was caused by forces beyond man control, the court ends up deciding that Kabuo is murdered Carl just because he was found with a stick that contained blood. They assumed that the blood was automatically for Carl. Kabuo accepts the courts verdict not because he murdered Carl but because he just felt guilty for killing people in world war. This saw him subjected to a punishment that he did not deserve.
Question 27
“The Cars - I'm Not The One”I'm not the one that you'll be shootin' for and I'm not the one who's coming back for more ~you know why~ We've been through this too many times ~you know why~ It's never clear it's pantomime Goin' round and round 'cause you can't get on your feet Goin' round and round still takin' all the heat Goin' round and round never looking down I'm not the one whose memory you still keepin' and I'm not the one who's talkin' in his sleep ~you know why~ I don't have to tell you twice ~you know why~ Knew you when you weren't so nice Goin' round and round 'cause you can't get on your feet Goin' round and round still takin' all the heat Goin' round and round never touching down I'm not the one that you'll be breakin' in and I'm not the one that you'll be takin' in ~you know why~ Tried and tried to crack the shell ~you know why~ When you fake it's hard to tell (Goin' round and round 'cause you can't get on your feet Goin' round and round still takin' all the heat Goin' round and round 'cause you can't get on your feet Goin' round and round and round and round) X3
This could be the perfect theme song that could well portray the biracial romance between Ishmael and Kabuo’s wife, Hatsue. For instance, “I'm not the one who's coming back for more ~you know why~ /we’ve been through this too many times ~you know why~” are lines that indicates how their love have been challenged by their cultural and fear prejudice since their childhood. Ishmael believe that he overcome his feelings before rumbling pressure from all sides upend the magnitude of justice and separate the community. Therefore, the song is suitable love song to be considered as a theme song.
Question 28
Although the type of racism that exists in the contemporary world is different from the one that existed in the olden days, it still has a major effect on my life. It has an effect on me in job, recognition and painfully on education. Racism has had a great impact on me in education. I applied to a predominately white school of my choice a few years ago. The outcome was very surprising. The color of my skin became a barrier for my enrollment. I had all the credentials and have met the requirements but I could not join the school simply because I’m nonwhite. It pained a lot, but I could do little to change the situation.
Kabuo’s Diary Entries
December 23, 1954
The day was quite bright. I had saved for a few years hoping to buy a piece of land from Etta. The thought of owning the piece of land has always rejuvenated my life. I visited Etta but ouch! The response I received was shocking. She would not send the piece of land to Japanese. She opted to sell it to another famer. This turn of events made me feel so low. I returned home empty handed. I found my wife waiting for me. The bad news shocked her but she could do nothing. I spent the rest of my day in doors thinking about the instance.
Oh, God preserve future generations from such prejudices.
December 24, 1954
It was my day of trial. I have been accused of killing Carl. The entire court house is very to the brim. The whole crowd looked at me with no doubt that I killed Carl. I stood in the court with nothing to tell the already convinced crowd. They believed that I killed Carl simply because I’m Japanese. The judge delivers the verdict and I accepted it though I was guilty. People walk home feeling relieved because the Japanese wrong doer is facing the consequences of his action.
Racism is a prejudice that one race is powerful or better than the other. It is normally based on skin color. It started in the dark ages with European expansion and expedition. The Europeans became excessively aggressive when dealing with others in order to reduce the chance of their annihilation. Since then, racism has continued to exist and may probably exist for so many years to come.
Various writers addressed the issue of racism. Racism has continued to affect people’s lives adversely. In snow falling on cedars, the jurors believe that Kabuo killed Carl simply because he is Japanese. The fact that he is a Japanese living in the San Piedro community is used to raise to accuse him. They were looking for a “left handed jap” (Guterson 98). This is because they believed that the murder must have been committed by a Jap.
The attitude of racism recurs throughout history. It will probably take ages to completely clear it. If the world is to be free of racism, people need to devote more efforts and resources towards the fight against racism. Although more emotional than logical racism remains an enduring phenomenon capable of adapting to the historical moment. It is a vice that we should all stand against.
Racism has been in existence so long as the different races existed. It is an aspect that is actually gaining momentum in the contemporary world. Various writers have tried to address the issue so as to bring it to the surface. Apparently the society has ignored the issue and is still going on with it. In snow falling on cedars, racism prevails all along. Guterson exposed it so that people would stop it. Unfortunately, it appears that no one is really taking it with the seriousness it deserves. It is high time that we stop this vice once and for all. The entire world should wake up and stand against racism a trait that has engraved our society.
Work cited
Guterson, David. Snow Falling on Cedars. New York: Vintage Books, 1995. Print.
