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Place refers to the environment in which people or animals live. In literature, living in a good place is one of the essential features that living things cannot survive without. In literature, place is mainly connected with activating the readers senses and evoking emotional responses (Shiga and Lane 1982, 47). The theme of the place is also considered vital because it mentally puts the readers where the writer intends them to be. In modern Japanese literature, the writers use the theme of place to help the readers understand how people moved from one place to another and their experiences in the new environment. Thus, At Kinosaki , depictions of grief, suffering, and devastating loss are articulated in alternate forms of belonging at a time and place when a set concept of cultural identification was becoming increasingly difficult to comprehend.
In the story above, the author used the theme of place to show the areas visited by the narrator at Kinosaki, where he spent at least three weeks. Naoyas accident caused by the trolley car allowed him to explore many places (Shiga and Lane 1982, 48). After the tragedy, the doctor advised him to have a good and long rest. The man feared that the injury could result in spinal tuberculosis. Naoya visited a hot springs inn in Tajima to recover from the injuries and intended to stay there for some time for a full recovery. Since there were no people to talk to in Naoyas yard, the environment was quiet, and all he could do was spend most of the time writing or reading novels.
On the other hand, location is also employed to represent natural appeal. Naoya spends most of his leisure time exploring breathtaking mountains. When he was bored of writing and reading, he usually walked along the towns roadways, which ran alongside a small river (Shiga and Lane 1982, 48). Naoya was drawn to fish that had developed at the foot of a mountain along the stream. Aside from that, there were freshwater crabs with hairs that perched peacefully on the mountains stones. As the man walked down the stream, he could not stop thinking about his mishap and what might happen if he died. He envisioned that his body may be interred among the graves of his mother and grandmother but that they would still be unable to converse with one another.
In other instances, place is also used to express loneliness in the narrative. For example, in the building where Naoya lived, he was the only one on the second floor. Due to the areas quiet and lonely nature, he could only take a chair and sit on the veranda (Shiga and Lane 1982, 49). From that vantage point, he could only sit and watch at a wasps nest built at the wainscoting, which was connected to the house. The insects were busy working hard from dawn to almost late at night. Naoya was attracted to the way those insects used their wings to protect themselves. In some instances, one of the wasps died and fell on the ground, and while this was happening, the other insects seemed not to be bothered, which made Naoya feel so emotional.
Consequently, when night came, all the other wasps flew to the nest while the corpse was lying uneasily. The narrator felt lonely for the corpse being left on a cold tiled roof, but at the same time, it was such a quiet and sad feeling (Shiga and Lane 1982, 49). During the rainy season, rains fell, and the poor wasp was drowned to the ground from the gutters and was covered with mud. Finally, the corpse was washed away by rain to an unknown place. Being thrown to the ground and swept by the waters signifies that dead insects are creatures whose lifeless bodies can only be found in places such as moving waters after death.
In addition, the theme of place is used by the author to demonstrate residency. First, the author explains that after the accident, he moved to the hot springs to recover from the injuries (Shiga and Lane 1982, 50). This scenario illustrates that the springs were the narrators home for the three weeks he was recuperating. Whenever he imagines that he could have died on that fateful day, he clearly and sadly acknowledges that the grave could have been home for his body as it is for his deceased mother and grandmother. Although there could be no communication in the grave, it could still be quiet and peaceful. After the narrator had healed from the injuries, he left the inn.
Moreover, in the story, the author also uses the theme of place to demonstrate how different areas are used as entertainment locations. At one time, while walking away from the hot springs in Tajima, he came across another hot spring called Ichi-no-yu, where a small stream flowing to the middle of the road entered the Maruyama River. People were crowded along the bridge and the sides of the stream. Wondering what was going on, Naoya got closer, only to notice that the crowd was watching a rat that had been tossed into the water. The gathering found it entertaining to watch how the poor rodent struggled to escape from the water (Shiga and Lane 1982, 51).
Whenever the animal tried to step on stones thrown in the water by children, it would still be held back. The viewers laughed loudly, not imagining how the animal felt in the river, having used to stay on land. The narrator could not hold on to see how the poor creature lost its life. It was such an awful feeling for Naoya, but he imagined how the rat would enjoy quiet and peaceful moments after death. The narrator reflected on the time of his accident and felt that he could have struggled like an animal to rescue his life if he was to die. Although, he knew that could still not work because his accident had to happen anyway because it was already planned.
In another perspective, the theme of place shows that different areas can be used to save lives and bring comfort to people. When the narrator got into an accident, he went directly to see a doctor who immediately attended to him (Shiga and Lane 1982, 50). However, before anything could be done, he wanted to know whether the condition was fatal, whereby one of the people he had asked confirmed that the situation was not deadly. This response encouraged the narrator to the level that he gained the courage to face the specialist dealing with his case. After asking about the condition, the doctor confirmed that the wounds were not fatal. Naoya thought that if the physician had said he was almost dying, he could have done everything possible to save his precious life.
In the narrative, the author combines space and time to express Naoyas fear and pity. When he got into an accident in the trolley car, he feared contracting spinal tuberculosis complications, which is why he immediately opted for medical attention (Shiga and Lane 1982, 53).
However, he was relieved to know everything was going to be ok. In the story, the author expresses how he feared death despite being in a quiet and calm environment after his demise. In this case, Naoya says that if the doctor could have mentioned that the injuries after the accident could lead to death, he could have tried all means to overcome such. That is why he expresses pity when he is seen being emotional about a wasp that died and laid on a cold tiled floor without even being bothered by the other insects. While at Kinosaki, the author decided to walk down a stream where no houses or people were passing by.
The experience was too bad because all he could see were trees; when a leaf hit the narrator, he felt troubled. At that time, darkness was coming in, and his whole body was cold (Shiga and Lane 1982, 53). The narrator had never had an experience of walking in the dark before. Naoya felt pity for the rat thrown in a stream and unsuccessfully struggled to escape the water. The narrator imagined how the dead rat felt after death even though the environment could be calm and quiet. He thought this was a bad experience and could not have wanted to have it sooner or later.
In other circumstances, the author used the theme of place in the narrative to express emotions. In this case, in the story, as Naoya was walking down a stream, he saw a water lizard standing on a rock beside the water (Shiga and Lane 1982, 54). The narrator went down and watched how the amphibian behaved. The lizard was relaxing to get free air while water was drying from its skin. Naoya wanted the lizard to return to the water, so he took a stone and hit it without killing the amphibian. Little did he know that the stone hit the lizard, who got into the water with the tail raised. After a short while, the lizard become unmoving, meaning it was dead.
Naoya became emotional after killing the lizard, although he neither liked nor disliked such amphibians. In Naoyas mind, feelings of what had happened to the rat, lizard, and wasps flowed into his mind, although he knew well that they no longer existed (Shiga and Lane 1982, 54). The narrator was happy to leave the hot springs at Kinosaki in Tajima, being assured by the doctor that he did not contract spinal tuberculosis after injuring his back from the accident. At the same time, he was so emotional about the rat, lizard, and wasps that died and were buried in water.
In conclusion, Naoyas narrative At Kinosaki has played a significant role in demonstrating how place has helped in the successful writing of modern Japanese narratives. Activities carried out by Naoya took place at different places making the story exciting and successful. Concerning this, all the events stated in the story happened in an actual place. The use of places has helped the author to show that different areas can be used for comforting and relaxing, entertaining, residing, or showing fear and emotions. The author combined place with time to show when and where a particular event occurred.
Reference
Naoya, Shiga, and Lane Dunlop. At Kinosaki. Prairie Schooner 56, no. 1 (1982): 4754. Web.
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