Blowfish- This store was a little bit on the strange side. The story is all about this man who got sick on a business trip and never seemed to recover a 100%. On his way returning home the man eats a meal at one of his favorite restaurants. He love to eat blowfish at this restaurant even though he known it can be poisonous. Later on that day while the man goes to visit his favorite geisha he starts to feel sick and remembers the blowfish he ate and becomes really sick. The geisha called a doctor and by the evening he was not doing well. The man knew it had to be the blowfish that had made him sick. It was really strange how the Chinese buried Endo in the ground leaving his head out; because they believed that it would make him better. They sure do have some weird rituals. While Endo was in the ground he sort of came to and started dreaming of these weird situations with his job at the theater. This made me think of how people say that your life flashed before your eyes when you die and according to the story it must be true. Endo passed away shortly after. This story taught me never to eat anything as exotic as blowfish.
Portrait of an Old Geisha- This story was hard to figure out; I am still not sure if I liked the old geisha or if I found her utterly annoying. I think it is a little bit of both. It was great that the old geisha decided to retire and adopt her relative as her daughter, but I still do not understand why she had to take in a boy named Yuki and make her his little project. I guess she just had too much money for her own good. The geisha's daughter Michiko was also a very strange child. I do not see why she would try and string Yuki along but then never really truly seemed interested in him. I was surprised when Yuki started to get tired of being able to work on his inventions. I thought that he would have always been thrilled because the geisha gave him everything he ever wanted. I would have thought that the old geisha would not have cared when Yuki ran away but in reality it made her very angry. I don't understand why she couldn't just let Yuki go since he was miserable. I guess this story goes to show that money can not buy happiness!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I've had other students read the Blowfish story and notice the same sorts of things. I guess it would be helpful if people realized that eating a blowfish is something of a dare. If not prepared properly, the person can die.
As for the burial in mud with his head up above the ground the Japanese believed that mud has healing properties. We once went to a spa up in the mountains that had volcanic (hot) mud they would put on people, that they thought would help soothe various illnesses.
It is a sad and depressing story I guess. Like you say, stay away from those Blowfish!
--------
Memoirs of the Geisha is an excellent read, and really gives good insight to their mystique. Dale and Corrine both read (and liked) it.
It was very common for an old Geisha to take in an understudy and continue on the trade as an apprentice. This could generate quite a lot of wealth back in those days.
Sounds like Yuki was very spoiled or did not realize how good he had it living with the old Geisha. Why did he run away? Was it because she stopped giving him everything?
Nice Descriptions,
Mr. Farrell
Post a Comment