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Essay on Banana Yoshimoto's Kitchen

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Reflective Statement
I researched the context of the novel and presented about the temporal and spatial backgrounds of Kitchen. During the 1980s, the time frame in which the novel was written, Japan’s economy was booming. This was due to the fact that Japanese industry imitated that of Western nations and produced goods that attracted a lot of customers. This could be seen in the novel when the Tanabes buy expensive Western products such as a juicer and a word processor. In addition, the characters in the novel are often unconcerned about money, which conveys Japan’s strong economy during the 1980s. During the discussion, I realized that Mikage being forced to move out of her apartment could be related to the late 1980s of Japan, when …show more content…

Yoshimoto incorporates this characteristic into her novella to have a fast plot development. Furthermore, light novels often integrate supernatural elements which are accepted as normal in Japan. I noticed that Korean and Japanese literatures were quite similar because both incorporate magical elements which allowed me to become more accepting of the novel’s oddity.

Word Count: 393

Lauren Kim
IBH Literature
Ms. Wiebusch
May 20, 2014
Written Assignment
Analysis of the Role of Warmth and Cold Imagery in Yoshimoto’s Kitchen

In Kitchen, Yoshimoto illustrates the story of Mikage, who loses loved ones, and how she overcame her grief. Although much was lost during in the process of translating the text to English, readers are still able to see the literary technique that the author originally incorporated in the novel. The recurring imagery of warmth and cold in the story provides insight into the characters, and the juxtaposition of the two creates contrast. Yoshimoto uses the warmth and cold imagery to portray the characters’ despair and show their processes of overcoming grief.
Yoshimoto uses the symbol of warmth to emphasize the characters’ positive emotions and the importance of human interaction. When Mikage was on her way to Yuichi’s after being invited, she notices that “a gentle, warm rain enveloped the neighborhood as [she] walked with directions in hand” (8). The “rain” symbolizes the cleansing and

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