What do you think about the ending?
The ending to the book seems like it is cut short, and you are left out of the ending of a good story. But what Part III of the book is about is the struggles that Kiyoshi faced in dealing with the families debt and the ending makes you realize that. Much of Part III of the book speaks of smaller stories, which all in some way impact the main point of the part; the families debt situation, which worries Kiyoshi, whose mother tells Toshio the debt would be Kiyoshi's to worry about. Although it is not mentioned much throughout the part, Kiyoshi does worry about the debt, and the fact that he will be living for his parent's debt for 10-15 years. Kiyoshi doesn't share his worries throughout Part III because he was raised to be a strong man, to always be samurai, and to hold all of his complaints in.
I was disappointed with the ending when I finished the book. what built up to the ending left me wanting to go off to war with Kiyoshi and see what World War II was like from a nisei's perspective. After considering it though, and realizing what the story was about I feel content with the ending. Imagine going through that struggle; being robbed of your childhood; forced to work to pay your parent's debt; going off to war only to get off of the plantation that you have called home for years, knowing you'll make the same amount of money either way. Kiyoshi didn't even speak of nervousness about going to war, or traveling, which he's never done before. The only thing he worried about was doing what he felt was the right thing, paying off his parent's debt.
The ending shows how noble of a person Kiyoshi is. He obviously cared about his own life, but knew that if doing what his mother wanted him to do, he wouldn't have a life and would be repaying his parents debt until he's too old to live his life. Going off to war he knows he will be able to give his parents the same he would give them if he was on the plantation. He reassures himself that it's the right thing to make everyone happy by ensuring the insurance will pay off his parent's debt if the worst happens and he dies.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI like your perspective on the ending. I thought that it was funny that he made his own luck in the end. In the end it was simple math and not superstition that help get the money he needed to repay his debt.
Thanks for the read
Benjamin
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI really like what you have to say about the ending of the book and also felt that you had a fantastic analyzation of the books over all message. I especially like the ideas you discussed about kiyoshis thoughts and feelings of obligation about his parents debt. You also had a great closing talking about him going of to war and risking his life to repay his debt.
I really liked what you had to say about the ending. You did a really good job describing and analyizing. I liked how you mentioned how he risked his life to repay his debt. Good job!
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