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LateChrysanthemumLecture12.docx
Late Chrysanthemum
Hayashi Fumiko (Japan)
Hayashi Fumiko is noted for her realistic stories that deal with urban working-class life. As a child, literature was her escape from unhappiness. Her own experiences of hunger and humiliation appear in her work. Her use of the themes of degradation and instability while depicting women who remain undaunted, command a strong readership.
In China, the chrysanthemum was cultured centuries ago and is traditionally offered to the elderly because they symbolize long life as well as good luck in the home. They are a durable flower (think football homecoming game in the cold) that ultimately came to Japan, appearing on its Emperor’s crest. A day called Festival of Happiness honors the flower.
Notice the word late in the title. The durable flower’s full glory is fading; it is late in its life cycle. It also can be interpreted as dead. EX: the late Elvis Presley. Both uses have application to the story.
Sometimes the story’s title is given as A Late Chrysanthemum which indicates that the lead character is one of many. She, however, is distinguished by the way she has prepared for the time when she can no longer earn an income.
Late Chrysanthemum was recipient of the women’s Prize for Literature in 1948. Consider its approach to a woman providing for herself that many decades ago. The central direction is both traditional stereotyping of the Japanese woman of her time (manner and dress) as well as clear opposition (financial acquisition and control). Notice the date of the award – shortly after World War II when Japan lost to the Allies. This was a period of intense societal upheaval.
In our culture today is there is strong bias against aging. The author addressed this topic “way before her time.” Clearly, a geisha relied on her physical charms to earn her money and, of course, any depletion in attractiveness negatively impacted income. But in current Western Culture the power houses are typically a sequestered group of older people or highly original 40-somethings. The creative edge even dips into lower age groups because advances of technology. The power workforce is typically younger as well. The Oriental culture long honored its elders as do many immigrant peoples new to the United States. Yes, Mrs. Dutta shows another face to that statement.
See how attentive Kin remains in caring for her body. She betrays a feminine desire to be attractive to a former lover seeking to show her unchanged beauty. She still yearns for love or at least an attraction. Does current society’s youth control that emotion? Why or why not?
Note the contrast between the instability of men versus the reliability of money. Ever hear of the phrase, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”? Not only did she earn her money, she managed it.
Kin and Tabe see the world differently. She worked intensely gathering her monies from customer to customer. He thinks she is lucky and that men must struggle and take risks. There is disappointment on both sides. She sees that she can no longer claim his sexual interest and he discovers that he cannot trade on their former relationship for money. Kin has distain for how he has physically weakened. She tries to manipulate him and he almost resorts to physical violence.
There is feminism in the story – a strikingly “newness” then. She was driven to make money. She was driven to be self-reliant. She was aware that her trade would diminish over time and so she needed to save for her future.
Overlying the plot is the recent war which coarsened all of society. So, there is disruption and decline in their relationship (the inward story) and in society overall (the general context).
