Post by qian lin on Oct 1, 2015 15:22:33 GMT
he main theme of the story is that the author wants to show the injustice of feudal society in Japan. Cunning Redshirt can become the vice president in the middle school. He is very hypocritical. He seems very kind but his intention is very selfish and cunning, but he can navigate himself well in the school. However, the Squash is forced to leave the school even though he does not really want to go to the very far school to teach. He is a very humble person but he could not get what he needs. On the other hand, the cunning Redshirt mostly gets what he wants. The comparison between Redshirt and Squash shows the injustice of the feudal society system in Japan.
I feel mostly sympathy with Redshirt. I think Redshirt is a person who are very cunning and selfish. He is very poor. A cunning person always think about how to deceive others. I do not think he has a very good psychological wellbeing as a cunning person. He needs to calculate too much in his life. His intentions and behaviors do not match, which is like a good actor. Acting is not a easy job to do. If he always acts in his life, he definitely will feel frustrated. He is acting in order to get what he wants. However, being as yourself is very important in one's life. He is not like Botchan who always is himself. Even though Botchan sometimes seems impulsive and childish. He is straightforward and expresses what he says. Botchan behaves as himself without covering his flaws. He is more sincere and realistic.
On page 35, Botchan complains that the principle and vice-principle do not have the night duty even though they have high position and high salary. The reason is that they are appointed to their position by prime minister. Botchan shows the injustice among teachers. Since principle and vice principle are appointed by prime minister, they do not need to do night duty. They have privilege compared to teachers. These privilege are given by the prime minister which symbolizes the highest authority of the society. He becomes the person who can give somebody privilege or not. He has more power than anyone else in the society. It shows that in the feudal society, the unequal right between the privilege and the normal people.
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think he western society like US prefer people to speak honestly and directly? However, in Asian country like China, the society does not encourage people to talk honestly and directly. People who do not speak directly and honestly in China or Japan might get what they want but people who speak directly in US might get what they want. What causes such differences? If people do not speak what they want in the society, what kind of problems might raise? If people speak directly and honestly in the society, what kind of problems also will raise?
I feel mostly sympathy with Redshirt. I think Redshirt is a person who are very cunning and selfish. He is very poor. A cunning person always think about how to deceive others. I do not think he has a very good psychological wellbeing as a cunning person. He needs to calculate too much in his life. His intentions and behaviors do not match, which is like a good actor. Acting is not a easy job to do. If he always acts in his life, he definitely will feel frustrated. He is acting in order to get what he wants. However, being as yourself is very important in one's life. He is not like Botchan who always is himself. Even though Botchan sometimes seems impulsive and childish. He is straightforward and expresses what he says. Botchan behaves as himself without covering his flaws. He is more sincere and realistic.
On page 35, Botchan complains that the principle and vice-principle do not have the night duty even though they have high position and high salary. The reason is that they are appointed to their position by prime minister. Botchan shows the injustice among teachers. Since principle and vice principle are appointed by prime minister, they do not need to do night duty. They have privilege compared to teachers. These privilege are given by the prime minister which symbolizes the highest authority of the society. He becomes the person who can give somebody privilege or not. He has more power than anyone else in the society. It shows that in the feudal society, the unequal right between the privilege and the normal people.
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think he western society like US prefer people to speak honestly and directly? However, in Asian country like China, the society does not encourage people to talk honestly and directly. People who do not speak directly and honestly in China or Japan might get what they want but people who speak directly in US might get what they want. What causes such differences? If people do not speak what they want in the society, what kind of problems might raise? If people speak directly and honestly in the society, what kind of problems also will raise?