Post by Hiba Rashid on Nov 26, 2015 22:55:23 GMT
Laughter is an important symbol in this story. In the beginning, the family shares moments of laughter over a Sunday afternoon brunch. It is something that unites a family with members that have completely different personalities. To Shiomura, this laughter "sounded better than the most splendid chorus" (p. 335). This is significant because, for the most part, laughter disappears after Mr. Carp arrives in their lives. Even though only Shiomura knows where Mr. Carp came from and the history behind him, the family slowly disunites. Shiomura detests Mr. Carp for it is a constant reminder of his sins and guilt towards his family and Tsuyuko, his ex-mistress. It makes him paranoid to the point that he thinks the fish recognizes him as if to say "I know it all [his past]" (p. 339). His daughter, Mayumi, constantly complains about Mr. Carp and his wife, Miwako, pretends to be perfectly fine until the end. His son, Mamoru, is the only one who cares for Mr. Carp. There are no more scenes in which the family is united as one through laughter.
To answer the discussion question, I believe Mamoru says "Bow wow!" at the end for a couple for reasons. The first reason being that he knows his mother killed Mr. Carp, so he does not want to answer her. Miwako pretends to be completely fine with Mr. Carp, but I suspect she knows where it came from and of her husband's past. That is why when Mamoru asks her if she put detergent or something in the tank, she seems nervous and tries to end his suspicion by returning to her normal tone of voice and changing the subject. Then, she does not just ask Mamoru to tell her where he went with his dad, she demands it of him. She probably also knows where Shiomura took Mamoru. She tries to get this out of Mamoru as evidence of Shimoura's wrongdoings towards her, but when she can't she becomes angry. The second reason could be that earlier in this scene, Mayumi asks if carp make noise when they die. So perhaps in response to that Mamoru says just any animal sound he can think of, as if to speak for his dead fish.
Discussion Questions:
(1) Why does Shiomura take his son to the neighborhood where he once spent his days with his mistress?
(2) What is the significance (if any) of the scene when Mamoru orders soda, the same drink Tsuyuko always ordered, in the coffee shop?
To answer the discussion question, I believe Mamoru says "Bow wow!" at the end for a couple for reasons. The first reason being that he knows his mother killed Mr. Carp, so he does not want to answer her. Miwako pretends to be completely fine with Mr. Carp, but I suspect she knows where it came from and of her husband's past. That is why when Mamoru asks her if she put detergent or something in the tank, she seems nervous and tries to end his suspicion by returning to her normal tone of voice and changing the subject. Then, she does not just ask Mamoru to tell her where he went with his dad, she demands it of him. She probably also knows where Shiomura took Mamoru. She tries to get this out of Mamoru as evidence of Shimoura's wrongdoings towards her, but when she can't she becomes angry. The second reason could be that earlier in this scene, Mayumi asks if carp make noise when they die. So perhaps in response to that Mamoru says just any animal sound he can think of, as if to speak for his dead fish.
Discussion Questions:
(1) Why does Shiomura take his son to the neighborhood where he once spent his days with his mistress?
(2) What is the significance (if any) of the scene when Mamoru orders soda, the same drink Tsuyuko always ordered, in the coffee shop?