Chapter 9 was probably the easiest
chapter to read in the book so far, in my opinion.
While Jane's story was interesting,
Akiko's is the part of chapter 9 that made me want to keep reading.
It felt like an eternity between the time that she sent the fax to
Jane and the time when Jane finally saw it. I also liked how Jane's
response is on page 233 and then when you flip the page it's straight
to John reading the fax. It almost felt like a really cheesey scene
change in a movie, but reading it the only thing I could think (at
the top of page 244) was “Shit. This isn't going to go well.” and
it didn't. John Ueno may really be one of the most easily dislikable
characters I've ever read.
It was also pretty disturbing that on
page 228 after Jane tells Kenji that Ueno tried to rape her, his
response was that she simply didn't understand. Cultural differences
aside, I can't imagine how someone could have so little empathy for
another person that the response of “you don't understand how
these things work” would seem reasonable. It's rape. It's not
something that she can not understand. This novel certainly doesn't
paint Japanese men in a very good light. Aside from Suzuki and Oh,
every Japanese male in this story is not only detestable but easily
so.
Last class we talked about having
sympathy for John Ueno and that he only wants the show done his way,
despite the increased ratings. I think this is because his objective
is to sell more meat that raises money for BEEF-EX, not to simply
have good ratings on the show. Most of Jane's shows that have had
great ratings have been shows that didn't sell meat. For example,
even though the lamb show had great ratings, it made BEEF-EX
companies no money. The lamb came from Australia and BEEF-EX is for
American meat producers. That said, John Ueno is simply too horrible
of a person to feel any sympathy for, especially after Chapter 9. How
he treats his wife is disgusting, even how he speaks to her is
horrible.
I'm really hoping that Akiko leaves
John while he is gone to Colorado in the next chapter. I also really
hope that she doesn't end up pregnant with his child now. In my mind,
she would be so much better off cutting him out of her life all
together than having a child, which would link them together forever.
Especially because I'm going to guess that being a single mother in
Japan isn't a very easy task.
I completely agree with your reading.
ReplyDeleteJohn's not painted at all well, and no matter what good qualities I can find in him he soon disproves.
Also the Japanese men, maybe even men in general save for some of the husbands of the wives they interview, are not really portrayed well at all.
Well, members of Jane's crew are growing at a good pace...Suzuki comes to mind here.
If I remember correctly, he was just as crass as John and Kenji, but he and the other guy have grown quite a bit over the course of the novel.
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ReplyDeleteI obviously agree with you that the Japanese man without empathy for the rape victim must be judged. But I don't think it's a "Japanese thing." Or a "culture thing." Or even a "man thing." Still today victims of rapes seem to be distrusted, be blamed, be criticized for what they wore. Blamed for what they did do, and blamed for what they didn't. I think texts like Ozeki's could change - or at least make us think about - these attitudes. We have to change this, because the attitudes are still around us today... but after reading this, no one will clearly feel like blaming the victims anymore.
ReplyDeleteI especially agree with your opinion on Akiko and having a baby with John. I feel like Akiko thinks that if she has a child and leaves John she will be free of him and finally get what she wants. However, I think that having a child with John will never allow her to be free of him.
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