Introduction
Snow Falling on the Cedars is a sensitive novel by David Guterson written in 1995. The novel is set in the year 1954 and is beautiful blend of courtroom drama and romance which takes place in a small town in Washington. The novel encompasses the lifestyle and dynamics of a fictitious community in the island of San Piedro, right after World War II.
The story relates to the past and the present and has intricate and complex impact on the courtroom trial of the murder case of Kabuo Miyamoto. Kabuo Miyamoto has been arrested for the murder of a white local San Piedro fisherman Carl Heine. The central core of the story revolves around the trial of Kabuo Miyamoto, along with it is the portrayal of interracial love story, a war story and a mystery which needs to be resolved. The story unwraps gradually revealing the complexities and intricacies of the relationship in private and public. The story about the people of San Piedro is also slowly unwrapped and the writer has effectively chosen the flashback as the way to tell the story of the various characters. There is a very delicate integration of the historical references between Japanese American immigration and treatment during and after World War II.
Main Text
The characteristic of the island is on the surface very sleepy and peaceful. The novel also explores the racial tensions which seethe under the surface of outer tranquility. The novel explores the prejudice which islanders harbored against Japanese Americans who lived in the community as a minority. The Japanese Americans were victims of prejudice during World War II. This was the outcome of the political and diplomatic relationship between Japan and America right after the bombing of the Pearl Harbor in 1941. Under this historical background United States had ordered the internment of people of Japanese origin in which more than two third were people who of American born citizens. Hatsue and her husband Kabuo were among them. As the process of enforcement of this internment, 100,000 Japanese Americans were forced to live in internment camps like prisoners of war under very poor living conditions and lot of hardship. They were sent to some remote areas evacuating their homes, work and possession. They felt that their civil rights were infringed upon by the American Government. When they were finally released and allowed to come back home they had no home, property and possession. They had to begin life from scratch. Miyamoto family was one among many who returned back home
and had no jobs, had lost their property, savings and their position in the community. Snow falling on the Cedars is based on this historical, political and diplomatic background which impacted the social scene around the time in 1954, when the trial of Japanese American Kabuo Miyamoto was taking place.
San Piedro is a small island near Washington, which is home of fishermen and strawberry farmers. It is home of many Japanese Americans. The storyline revolves around one Japanese American on trial Kabuo Miyamoto, who has been accused based on evidence of the murder weapon, for the murder of Carl Heine. The trial of Kabuo’s murder case is told in a chronological order, leading to the intricacies and the complexities of the relationships based on the historical background which is integrated with the investigation and the trial. The investigation revolves around the fact that a white fisherman named Carl Heine is found drowned in his own net with a serious head injury. Coincidentally, the last person who saw him alive is a Japanese American named Kabuo Miyamoto. Heine’s injuries suggest that sherrif look for “a Jap with a bloody gun butt” (Guterson, pg. 59). Murder weapon is found in Kabuo’s boat with bloodstain on the butt of the weapon. He is the main suspect of the murder trial. The trial takes place in the midst of deep anti-Japanese feelings which has been nurtured in the community since World War II. An important character in the novel is Ishmael Chambers who is a World War II veteran who lost his one arm fighting Japanese.
Ishmael Chambers is the reporter who is covering the trial, he sits in the courtroom and carefully observes the proceedings of the trial. Interestingly he still loves Hatsue, who is the defendant’s wife and has shared rapturous childhood experiences with Ishmael Chambers. Ishmael Chambers is torn between his tortured relationship with Hatsue and the facts and the proceedings of the trial. This is one of the major storylines depicting the interracial love story between Kabuo’s wife Hatsue and Ishmael Chambers, islands only reporter. The past has deep influence on the present trial and Ishamel Chambers plays a very important role in the determination of the outcome of the three day trial. Throughout the trial, the flashback stories are reflected upon and historical references are gathered to determine the real intend of the defendant.
Another dimension of the trial is the reference made regarding the possession of illegal land which involves the Heine’s family and Miyamoto family.
The story takes us back to pre-war period and legal understanding between Senior Heine, Carl’s father and Senior Miyamoto in reference to seven acres of land, which was leased based on ten year lease period. Just one more year’s payment was due when the war broke and Miyamoto’s had to be transferred to the interment camp. After the war when they finally came to claim their land it was found that illegally it was sold to another man by Etta Heines, who was a widow then and in charge of all her husbands landed property. The old lady held resentment against Miyamoto’s right from the beginning. Kabuo had been keen to buy back this landform the rightful owner, which happened to be Carl Heine, and proposed if he could get his land back. Carl agreed to think about it. This context of inter racial legal scenario and interracial love angle makes the story a complex story with regard to the outcome of the trial.
The two dimensions merge in the end to give final outcome of the trial. Interestingly the private love affair and the public legal land battle are the two driving forces which impact the outcome of the three day trial. The jury establishes that Kabuo had both motive and means to kill Carl. Evidence also places him at the scene of the crime. Everything points against his him and there is only one last minute information which Ishamel Chambers has can save Kabuo from this charge.
A very significant discovery is made by Ishmael the night before the end of the trial. He visits the lighthouse as the course of his investigation. He does this to get the story on the weather, and he finds notes from the night watchman that can clear Kabuo. It is upon Ishmael to decide what he wants to do, to keep the information to himself or use his newspaper to support the Kabuo’s case. The decision-making process of Ishmael defines his character and the turn of the story. The conclusion is based on the ethical and moral decision taken on the part of Ishmael to bring forth before the public the true chronological sequence of events which happened on the night of the murder as recorded by the night watchman in the lighthouse. The search for truth comes to an end and justice is established which clears Kabuo of the charges and brings peace and joy in the life of Hatsue. Ishmael Chambers also decides to make peace with his life and decides to go on with his life and make amends with Hatsue by surrendering his bitterness and resentment.
Conclusion
It can be said that Snow Falling on the Cedars is about the thoughts and the actions of three main characters Kabuo, Hatsue and Ishmael. It is largely a depiction of how the three characters find their firm ground and finally make the right decision to support the right cause. It is about their feelings and their responsibilities and their respective losses. It is also about learning to accept life and situations and recognize a sense of mutual indebtedness which gives the strength to survive through gravest injuries and betrayals. In an isolated community like San Piedro, “identity was geographic instead of blood”( Guterson, pg. 206). The snow falls on everyone who lives giving them a sense of identity which belongs only to this island. It is a community which thrives on kinship and acknowledgment of the truth in the light of surrendering the clouds of prejudice which covers the sunshine. The snow permits the light of truth to shine forth and dazzle the islanders with its grace and power. It is a story about human insight, courage and acceptance.
Bibliography
Guterson, David. Snow Falling on the Cedars: A Novel. Vintage. 1995.