THE POWER OF CHIYO IN ARTHUR GOLDEN’S
MEMOIRS OF A
GEISHA
THESIS
Submitted as Partial Fullfilment of the Requirements for the Sarjana Degree of English Department Faculty of Arts and Humanities UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya
MOH. IMRONI
A93213156
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
ABSTRACT
Imroni, Muhammad. 2017. The Power of Chiyo in Arthur Golden’sMemoirs of a Geisha. English Department, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, The State Islamic University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya.
The advisor: Abu Fanani, SS, M.Pd,196906152007011051,
Key words: Existence, Freedom, Responsibility.
INTISARI
Imroni, Muhammad. 2017. The Power of Chiyo in Arthur Golden’sMemoirs of a Geisha. Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Ampel Surabaya.
Dosen pembimbing: Abu Fanani, SS, M.Pd,196906152007011051,
Kata Kunci: Existensi, Kebebasan, Tanggung Jawab.
Di dalam analisa ini, peneliti menganalisa peran utama terutama peran seorang wanita di dalam novelMemoirs of a Geisha. Analisa ini dapat di lihat dari sudut pandang eksistensi. Kebebasan dan tanggung jawab dari tokoh perempuan yang bernama Sakamoto Chiyo menjadi sebuah masalah dalam analisa. Di dalam analisa ini, peneliti menyajikan sebuah masalah perjuangan seorang wanita untuk memperoleh
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Inside Cover Page ... i
Tittle page ... ii
Advisor’s Approval Page ... iii Examiner’s Approval Page ... iv
Declaration Page ... v
Motto ... vi
Dedication Page ... vii
Acknowledgement ... viii
Table of Contents ...x
Abstract ... xii
Intisari ... xiii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ... 1
1.1 Background of the Study ... 1
1.2 Statement of the Problems ... 4
1.3 Objective of the Study ... 5
1.4 Scope and Limitation ... 5
1.5 Significance of the Study ... 5
1.6 Method of the Study... 6
1.7 Organization of the Study ... 7
1.8 Definition of the Key Terms ... 7
CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW ... 9
2.1 Theoretical Framework ... 9
2.1.1 Jean Paul Sartre’s Existentialism... 9
2.1.2 New Criticism ... 16
2.1.5 Characterization ... 18
2.2 Review of Related Study ... 19
CHAPTER III ANALYSIS ... 21
3.1 Chiyo’s Characterization ... 21
3.1.1 Smart ... 21
3.1.2 Brave ... 25
3.1.3 Self-Determined ... 28
3.1.4 Tough ... 30
3.2 Chiyo’s Existence... 32
3.2.1 Chiyo’s freedom ... 33
3.2.2 Chiyo’s responsibility ... 36
3.2.3 Chiyo’s self-reliance ... 41
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION ... 45
4.1 Conclusion ... 46
WORKS CITED ... 48
APPENDICES ... 50
Appendix 1: The Synopsis of Memoirs of a Geisha ... 51
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
As the writer know that literature is an activity of imagination, creative,
and refined. Literature can be read, comfort, and appresiation. According to De
Bonald, literature is an expression of society. To illustrate the phenomenon of
literature, we have to know the condition of economic, social, and politic that
become the factor of the history. Actually, literature reflect and express the life
(Wellek and Warren 7).
Literary works consists of fiction and nonfiction. Fiction means that the
literary works are related to the imagination and the invention of the author.
Fiction works is a literary work that the story is unreal. Whereas nonfiction is a
literary work that related to the real condition. Nonfiction is written form that are
related to data and factual. It is not related to the imagination of the author. It
consists of announcement, speech text, reports, journals, biography, scientific
articles, etc. (Gutkind 8).
Based on Eagleton, Literature has a very close relation with human life. It
reflects what really happen in the real life. So it is no doubt to find out various
kinds of problem taking place in our daily life and the emotional sense on
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that they cannot give us a knowledge of the social formation; but they do give us
something of equal importance in analyzing culture, an imaginary representation
of real relations. There are many authors who cover their conditional surroundings
into their works. Thus there must be found a very close relation between one
literary work and the era when it is made (Eagleton and Milne 329).
The writer has known that literature is a part of the human life that reflects
the reality in what happened in each aspect of live. Literature represents the life
which deals with internal and external factors of human life. It will be interesting
to criticize it, because the writer will get a lot of knowledge by this criticism. To
criticize literary works, the writer need some understandings about literary
criticism. Peck and Coyle define that Literary criticism is the analysis,
interpretation and evaluation of literary works. It does not mean that literary
criticism is to find the fault in literary works. Analyzing literature means
analyzing human life as experiences, ideas, motivations, emotions or expectations
which are expressed in the words (Peck and Coyle 150).
Literary work is an author’s creative thinking. The author writes the
literary based on what they feels, sees, and the experiences in real life. Literature
is the represents of life (social reality). Even though the natural world and
subjective world of the individual have also been the objects of the literary
“imitation‟ (Wellek and Waren 94). In other way, literature is one of the subject
which deals with inner and outer factors of human life which are described
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There are many literary works that tell about a struggle. One of the literary
work that tell about struggle is Memoirs Of A Geishawritten by Arthur Golden.
Arthur Golden was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, America. Many people
believe that he was born in 1952. In 1980 when he was in University of Colombia,
he wrote a novel about the life of Geisha. The idea appeared after he talked over
with a businessman in Tokyo. Five years later he produced 800 pages about
Geisha in Tokyo with a background of world war II. (Aulia 36-37)
Memoirs Of AGeishatells us about Chiyo (9 years old). She was sold by
his father and his sister named Satsu to an Okkiya named Okkiya Nitta in Gion.
Unfortunately, Satsu does not qualify as a geisha so even employed in a brothel.
Chiyo suffered enough in life Okkiya because of a geisha named Hatsumomo
jealous of her beauty. Hatsumomo does everything possible in order to Chiyo only
serve as a lifetimewaiters. She is trying to leave the Okkiya in order to get a
freedom. But, her planning is found out by Hatsumomo and tells to Mother.
Because of that she has a punishment from Mother. She has to become a servant
all of the day. When she bewail her destiny, Chairman come and try to entertain
her. At that time, Chiyo determined to become a geisha. She wants to become a
geisha because she wants to have a chance to meet Chairman.As an adult she
changed her name to Sayuri. She became a geisha of the most beautiful and
increasingly make Hatsumomo envious. Hatsumomo choses the best geisha to
fight Sayuri, but can not match the beauty of Sayuri. When she becomes a geisha,
she has to face Mizuage. Mizuage is a ceremony undergone by a Japanese maiko
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virginity. The virginity will be unscrewed to a danna who have the highest
offered. Chiyo hopes that the Chairman becomes her danna. The fact is Dr. Crab’s
becomes her danna with the highest offered. Actually she does not want her
virginity taken by Dr. Crab’s because she does not love him. She just love the
Chairman since she meet him. But, she can not refuse the mizuage because she
has not enough power. Meanwhile she feels guilty to the Chairman and lose her
chance to get the Chairman’s love. One day she meet with the Chairman in a tea
house and declare her love to him. Finally, she get the Chairman’s love and leave
the Okkiya with the Chairman. She is moving to New York and opening a tea
house there.
Based on the story, the novel tells about human existence that is revealed
by Chiyo. We can see the human existence when Chiyo fight against her life
suffered. She tried to become a Geisha and beat a Geisha that envious to her.
Because of the background explained above, the writer intends to study
thenovel. Thereason that the writer conducst the study because the novel tells
about the struggle to fight her lifebecoming the most explosive issue in the novel
that is perfomed by the main character (Chiyo).
1.2 Statement of the Problems
Based on the background of the study above, this study is conducted to
answer the problems formulated in the following questions:
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2. What is the impact of Chiyo’s existence to her life?
1.3 Objective of the Study
Based on the statement problems above, the objectives of the study are
aimed:
1. To describeChiyo’s way to show her existence
2. To reveal the impact of Chiyo’s existence
1.4 Scope and Limitation
This research would take more discussion about existentialism. Moreover,
this study just focus on the main character in the novel (Chiyo) and about the side
of existentialism on Chiyo. It means that the writer will only discuss about the
struggle of Chiyo.
1.5 Significance of the Study
The researcher hopes that the finding of the study will give direct
contribution to the existing knowledge in the field of literature. Practically,
the researcher aims to enrich to the theory based on literary studies, especially
related to the existentialism.
Practically, the reader will know how to analyze literary work use
existentialism theory. In this case the students will get information about struggle
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study is expected to be useful as reference and alternative information for others
especially English literature students who conduct the similar research.
1.6 Method of the Study
In presenting the analysis, the writer mainly uses descriptive method.The
core of descriptive analysis relates to the processes of describing phenomena,
classifying it, and seeing how the concepts interconnect. Some steps that used by
writer to analyze the novel:
1. Reading the novel to get complete and well understanding of the whole
story.
2. Collecting some books that related with existentialism theory.
2. Find the data in the novel to find the word that is related.
3. Selecting and collecting data in form of narration and conversation from
the novel related to the existence point.
4. Analyzing the data collected by firstly categorizing them into two
points, dealing with the statement of problems. Then, each point is
analyzed using existentialism theory, which refers to the objectives of the
study.
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1.7 Organization of the Study
There are four chapters to present the study. The first chapter is
introduction. Introduction is divided into eight points. Those are background of
the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, scope and limitation,
significance of the study, method of the study, organization of the study, and
definition of the Key Term.
The second chapter is theoritical frame work. Theory that is used in this
research and previous study are included in theoritical frame work.
The third chapter is analysis the data. The analysis data explain about the
problem that will be discussed in the research. It will show and answer the
research problem and it will become the material of the conclusion of this
research.
The last chapter is conclusion. This chapter will find the characterization
of Chiyo and the existence of Chiyo in the novel.
1.8 Definition of the Key Terms
Struggle : The ability to do something or act in a particular way, the
capacity to influence the behavior of others, the emotions, or the course of
events. (Ratna 187)
Freedom : The need for independence and spontaneity. It is also the need to
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Oppression : The unjustifiable placing of a burden on someone or some group,
by interfering with their powers, interests, or opportunities. Or, the
condition in which people feels unhappy and hardship because of
something. (Deborah 87)
Existentialism: An ideology of philosophy whose center of understanding is a
human that is responsibile for her/his choice without knowing true or falls.
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CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE
1.1 Theoretical Framework
To help the readers in understanding this research, the writer will analyze
the novel that related to this study by some theories. The writer uses existentialism
and new criticism theory. In using of existentialism, the writer employ Jean Paul
Sarter theori. The theory will be explained as follows:
1.1.1 Jean Paul Sarte’s Existentialism
Existentialism is an ideology of philosophy whose center of understanding
is a human that is responsibile to her/his wish without knowing true or falls.
Actually, instead of not knowing what is right and what is not true, but an
existentialist aware that truth is relative, and therefore each individual is free to
determine what he said is true. Existentialism was applied in 19th- and
20th-century by European philosophers and Existentialism became popular in the years
after second World War and many disciplines besides philosophy, including
theology, drama, art, literature, and psychologystrongly influence.(Anderson 19)
Existentialism is a philosophical school that sees all and sundry to be
based on the existence. Epistemologically, the word existentialism is derived from
the Greek word Existere with the meaning ex (outside) and sistere (the way of
I m r o n i | 10
way ofstanding or something which is able to exceed its presence (Baird and
Kaufman 54).
The term of existence can be applied just to humans, or more precisely to
concrete individual. Just a concrete individual who can do the existence. So,
individual can not be reduced to others reality. Existence is not living based on
abstract and mechanical patterns, but existence continuously make new choices in
a personal and subjective way. Individual is a life actor who dares to make a basic
decision for his own life direction, not a mere of spectator of life. (Baid and
Kaufman 54)
Sartre said that Man is nothing else but he has to be responsible forthe
choices that is taken by himself. For existentialists, when freedom is the only
human universality, then the restriction of the freedom of each individual is the
freedom of other individuals. Becoming existentialists not just have to be different
from others, conscious that the existence of the world is something which is
beyond the control of people, but not to create something unique or new is the
essence of existentialism. The essence will be visible toexistentialism if human
make a selection on the basis of their own desires, and be aware of their
responsibilities in the future (Howard 456).
Existentialists advised us to let whatever we examine, whether the objects,
feelings, thoughts, or even human existence itself to reveal itself to us. This can be
done by opening up to the experience, to accept it, although not in accordance
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There are some philosophers whose thought are about existentialism. One
of the philosophers whose thought is about existentialism is Jean Paul Sartre.
According to Sartre, the existentialist is those who believe and act upon "existence
precedes essence". The existence of human is created before essence because
human is created by god. Different from a thing that created by human. A thing
that created by human is “essence precedes existence”. The essence precedes
existence because the essence from a thing that will be created by human had been
existed before (Sartre 25) .
Human as an existence who precedes the essence means that human has to
be responsible for their act or their choice made. The responsibility is not for
his/her self, but responsible for all of people who get the impact of his/her act.
Human choose for himself means that he/she choose for everyone. As a statement
of Jean Paul that a man who commits himself, and who realizes that he is not only
the individual that he chooses to be, but also a legislator choosing at the same time
what humanity as a whole should be, cannot help escape the feeling of his own
full and profound responsibility (Sartre 25).
Sartre said that “exist” is devided in to two point. Those are l’etre-en-soi
(being-in-itself) and l’etre-pour-soi (being-for-itself). Being-in-itself mean that
exist as a thing (object) and being-for-itself mean that exist as a awareness.
Human as being-for-itself mean that human have a freedom to form their self with
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Base on the explanation above, the writer will use Jean Paul Sartre’s
existentialism to analyze the object in the next chapter. It is chosen because his
thought about existence is suitable to analyze the main character in the novel
Memoirs of a Geisha. Sartre’s existentialism emphasize every individual freedom
and responsibility (Sartre 16).Meanwhile, to clearly clarify about existentialism
by Jean Paul Sartre, it will be explained in this research. Some point of Jean Paul
Sartre’s are:
1. Existence preceds the essence
It means that the existence of human is created before essence
because human is created by god. The essensiality of human appear when
they have done something. Different from a thing that created by human, a
thing that is created by human is “essence precedes existence”. The
essence precedes existence because the essence from a thing that will be
created by human had existed before (Sartre 25).
Existentialism started through the existence of a premise precedes
essence. Existentialism does not discuss about human essence in
abstraction. Meanwhile it discusses about the concrete reality of human in
specification, through existence of human being in the world. Then, it will
describe the existence of human being as it has been experienced by
human being. An essence refers to general, abstract, static, so that it rejects
to concrete, individual, and dynamic. On other hand, an existence refers to
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2. Human is condemned to be free
It means that human reality is free, basically and completely free.
(Sartre 11). In this situation, human has to endeavor to change their
position.This effort is accompanied by decisions on choices that human
beings can choose by themselves. This choice in the determination of life
is a form of a project which man endeavors both to himself and to
others.Human has to strive to achieve the possibility in their existence.
(Montolalu 12)
In a principle, freedom is burdened to every man in specific
situation in the world, and it is not his choice. Human is free in a very free
situation to mean his situation through the deeds and efforts chosen and
determined by himself. The world situation is burdened to every man
(example in the form of bad environment, war and died), exactly it
becomes a requirement of freedom. Principally, freedom is impossible to
realize if there is no available situations, the stage does not choose itself in
this world. (Abidin 201)
I say that man is condemned to be free. Condemned, because he did not create himself, yet is nevertheless at liberty, and from the moment that he is thrown into this world he is responsible for everything he does. .... (Satre 16)
From the text above, the writer can know that human is condemned
to be free. Sartre’s view emphasize that freedom is a foundation toward all
of action that choosen by human (Sartre 14).Human is free to do anything,
I m r o n i | 14
3. The choice brings it with responsibility
“I am condemned to be free. This means that no limits to my
freedom can be found except the freedom itself” (Sartre 567).Human is
free to do anything and anywhere, human is also free to act and be
themselves.Human has a freedom to determine what they will do to get the
essence. And this determination is done by making choices. However, a
freedom to make a choice is accompanied by a deep fear. Because, with
the choiceshuman declare their responsibility not only to themselves but
also to others.Acoordingto sartre, human realizes that they exist. It means
that human realizes that they face the future, and realize what they do. It
pressures on human responsibility. (Howard 456)
Man should not claim anyone else when he face some problems in
his way. The true man is responsible for himself. Man has a commitment
and responsibility. He pays attention to his satisfaction and feeling which
is showed by his dream. There is nothing able to control everyone to face
the future. Human has to have free feeling to make a choice. Even
anything of risk come true, human has to be responsible for the
choice(Barnes256). So, human has a freedom to do anything, make
choices and responsible for the choices.
4. Self-Reliance
Self-reliance is the term suggests an independent action, a reliance
on one’s own resources as opposed to dependence on others.For Emerson,
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intelligent and imaginative independence and freedom whereby one has
the courage and enthusiasm to think and to express one’s own thoughts,
ideas and dreams rather than a fearful or careful reiteration of popular
opinion or traditional “truth”. It emerges from a belief that one is capable
of self guidance and self-determination. Emerson’s message is to “trust
theyself”, to dare to see the world with your own eyes, to experience life
from your own heart and to trust your own instincts. This is the attitude
towards life which may be observed in infants and small children, before
they have been clapped into jail by their consciousness” (Emerson134). It
means that human has to have an independent action and trust theyself.
Emerson’s view about self reliance explains that life changes and
grow, and can always learn something new. Man’s life is a progress and
not a station (Emerson169).In self-reliance, Emerson always resounds to
everyone’s ability. According to him wisdom and truth are not the
prerogative of the learned and the scholarly; each individual has access to
his/her own truth, and this truth has a validity which may be honoured if
we share it with the world: The learned and the studious of thought have
no monopoly of wisdom.
5. No choice means bad faith.
Bad Faith is a form of self-deception. It refers to behaviors that
human employ and choose. Human tries to deny their freedom. It is in bad
faith when human tries to escape the responsibility of freedom and rid
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choice.No choicemeans bad faith because in existence human has to be
responsibile for their choices and consider the freedom of others. (Weij
149-150)
1.1.2 New Criticism
New criticism is a name that applied to a vary and extremely energetic
effort among Anglo-American writers to focus in a critical attention on literature.
New Criticism emerged after World war I. The term of new criticism is firstly
introduced by John Crowe Ransom and supported by I.A. Richard and T.S. Eliot
(Searle 1). The opponents of New Critics have frequently charged that they ignore
the history, ideology, politics, philosophy, or other factors that compose literary
experience.
The institutional dimension of the New Criticism is particularly clear in
this respect, in the creation of enermously influential textbooks and the writing of
histories not merely of literature but also critic the literature it self. The force of
the New Criticism as a movement is evident in the pervasive sense that literary
study was strongly implicated in the formation and continuation of cultural values
that precisely at the time when those values perceived to be in peril (Searle 2).
New criticism is clearly characterized in premise and practiced: it is not
concerned with context- historical, biographical, intellectual, and so on; it is not
interested in fallacies of intention or affect; it is concerned solely with the text in
itself, with its language and its organization; it does not seek the text meaning, but
I m r o n i | 17
of literary work. The formal elements are consist of images, symbols, metaphors,
rhyme, meter, point of view, setting, character, plot and so on (Tyson 137).
1.1.3 Character
Character is the agent in a literary work. Character created by the author
to help the plot of the literary work. According to Jones, character is the
describing a real person that shows in the story. The reader can appreciate the
literary work from the character and we can know the history of the literary work
from the character (Sayuti 68).A character in a story almost true life, thus a
successful author recreates the actual throughout life itself roomates particular that
is able to make the reader to see a presentation of real life (Jacobs 135).
Actually, there are some types of character in literary work. Those are
major and minor character. Major character is an important character in a story
that appeared continually. Actually, major character dominates the story.
Supporting of the major character is minor character. Minor character is a
character of less importance than the major character (Nurgiyantoro 176).
Major character somtimes called protagonist character who have conflict
with antagonist character. Protagonist is a central character in a story. The story is
generally revolved around a problem that faced by the protagonist and how the
protagonist find the solution of the problems. Protagonist character can be more
than one in a story. (DiYanni 64)
Antagonist character is the opposite of protagonist character. Though
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character who try to stand in the way of the villainous protagonist as well.
Antagonist does not necessarily have to be one character. It can be a group of
character, an institution, a concept that stands in the way of the protagonist.
(DiYanni 65)
From the explanation above, the writer knowssome character’selements in
a literary work. There are two types of character. That are major and minor
character. Major character is a main character who manage all of situations in a
literary work and minor character is the supporting character who attend to the
literary work.
According to Abrams, Character seen from complexity divides into two
kinds. Those are round character and flat character. Round character is a character
who change the attitude because of some factors that make a different character at
the beginning and the end of the story. While the flat character is a character who
does not change the attitude from the beginning and the end of the story.
Generally flat character played by protagonist player. (31)
1.1.4 Characterization
Character and characterization are very important in a story. Both of
character and characterization can not to be separated in a story. Characterization
is the image of character. Characterization tells us how is the character in the
story/novel. We can know the characterization of the character from their action
I m r o n i | 19
develops the fictional people who populate in a story. With characterization, the
reader can know all of characters in the story/novel.Characterization is very
important when the reader can explore the novel by paying attention on the
character’s speeches, actions and comments.Characterization of some character
are offered by the author in order to make some understandingto the reader about
the idea of the story (Holman 2).
According to Holman, there are three fundamental methods of
characterization in fiction: (1) the explicit presentation by the author of the
character through direct exposition, either in an introductory block or more often
piecemeal throughout the work, illustrated by action; (2) the presentation of the
character in action, with little or no explicit comment by the author, in the
expectation that the reader will be able to deduce the attributes of the actor from
the actions; and (3) the representation from within a character, without comment
on the character by the author, of the impact of action and emotions upon the
character’s inner self, with the expectation that reader will come to a clear
understanding of the attributes of the character (Holman 76).
2.2 Review of Related Studies
The writer finds some previous study that has similar object. The first is
from Nanang Muhammad Mahfud, a student from Muhammadiyah University of
Surakarta. The title is Women’s Position in Memoirs of a Geisha Written by
Arthur Golden (1997): A Feminist Approach. His thesis focus on feminist
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The second is from Diyah Ayu Saptoningrum, a student from
Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta. She wrote thesis under the title
“Simbolism in Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of Geisha”. Her thesis focus on symbol
that there is in the novel. The aim of her thesis are analyze the novel in terms of
its structure (structural analysis) and identify symbolism used by Arthur Golden in
I m r o n i | 21
CHAPTER III
ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer will analyze the novel “Memoirs of a Geisha”
with some theory. The analysis will focus on the first character (Chiyo). For the
first, the writer will be used character and characterization that include in new
criticism theory. It gives some representation of Chiyo’s life in the novel. Finally,
to close the writer use Jean Paul Sartre’s existentialism to analyze the existence
values that applied by Chiyo in novel Memoirs of a Geisha. The existence values
are freedom and responsibility.
3.1 Chiyo’s Characterization
Characterization is the image of character. Characterization tells us how is
the character in the story/novel. We can know the characterization of the character
from their action that there is in the novel. Characterization refers to the way of an
author to develops the fictional people who populate in a story. With
characterization, the reader can know all of characters in the story/novel (Kusomo
15).
3.1.1 Smart
Chiyo is a smart young women. She has inteligence when she was child.
Before she become a geisha, she lived in fisher village, Yorido. She is a daughter
I m r o n i | 22
in her social condition. She calls her house with “a tipsy house”. She call her
house with “a tpsy house” because the house stood near a cliff where the wind off
the ocean was always blowing. She said that the ocean had caught a terrible cold,
because it was always wheezing and there would be spells when it let out a huge
sneeze-which is to say there was a burst of wind with a tremendous spray. It is
described in the following quotation:
In our little fishing village of Yoroido, I lived in what I called a "tipsy house." It stood near a cliff where the wind off the ocean was always blowing. As a child it seemed to me as if the ocean had caught a terrible cold, because it was always wheezing and there would be spells when it let out a huge sneeze-which is to say there was a burst of wind with a
tremendous spray. I decided our tiny house must have been offended by the ocean sneezing in its face from time to time, and took to leaning back because it wanted to get out of the way. Probably it would have collapsed if my father hadn't cut a timber from a wrecked fishing boat to prop up the eaves, which made the house look like a tipsy old man leaning on his crutch. (Chapter 1)
The text above tells that Chiyo gives a name to her house “a tipsy house”
and call the ocean had caught a terrible cold. When Mr. Tanaka ask her house, she
says that she lived in the little tipsy house up on the cliffs. She says tipsy house
because her house is the one that leans to the side, like it's had too much to drink.
She also says to Mr. Tanaka that she has a type of eyes like her mother. It is show
indicated in the text:
"You've got an eggplant on your face, little daughter of Sakamoto."
He went to a drawer and took out a small mirror to show it to me. My lip was swollen and blue, just as he'd said.
I m r o n i | 23
"The eyes are my mother's," I said. "But as for my father, he's so wrinkled I've never known what he really looks like." (Chapter 1)
Following the text, Chiyo said that her eyes is like her mother. As a young
daughter she know about something that she has. Unconsciously her father and
Mr. Tanaka sold her and Satsu (Chiyo’s oldersister) to Mr. Bekku an assistant of
Nitta Okkiya. She sold by her father because her economic condition. In Nitta
Okkiya, she meets Hatsumomo as a success geisha. Chiyo has to help her in order
to she becomes a famous geisha. Chiyo cleaned her cloth and room all of the day.
Hatsumomo have some tricky to make Chiyo restless in the Okkiya. Because of
Chiyo’s smartness, One day Chiyo take a reverenges to Hatsumomo for
something that make Chiyo have a punishment. It is illustrated in the following
quotation:
I decided I had no choice but to wait until my fifty-day confinement was over. In the meantime, I put my efforts into finding ways to repay
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The quotation above describes Chiyo’s ways to repay Hatsumomo and
Granny for their cruelty. Not only their cruelty, as a geisha she has to learn
Japanese art such as musical instruments, traditional dancing, noh theatre, ikebana
and flower arrangement, and chanoyu or tea ceremony. All of Jepanese arts are
very difficult to be learned by Chiyo. To overcome the difficulities, Chiyo finds
some tricks. One of the tricks is shown by Chiyo when she practicing shamisen.
Chiyo’s trick in practicing shamisen described in the following text:
Then after that, I began to discover little tricks that made everything go more smoothly. For example, I found a way of practicing the shamisen while running errands. I did this by practicing a song in my mind while picturing clearly how my left hand should shift on the neck and how the plectrum should strike the string. (Chapter 12)
The text above show how Chiyo get a trick in practicing the shamisen. It
shows that she is very clever. Her clever is avowed by Auntie as a senior member
in the Okkiya. Auntie said to Granny that Chiyo is very clever girl which can be
seen from the shape of Chiyo’s ears.
"Oh, I'm sure you're right," Auntie said. "Probably she's just as you say. But she looks to me like a very clever girl, and adaptable; you can see that from the shape of her ears." (Chapter 3).
The dialogue tells that Chiyo is very clever and adaptable girl. It can be
seen from the shape of her ears. Not only Auntie who says that Chiyo is clever but
also teacher Mouse as Chiyo’s shamisen teacher. When teacher Mouse sees her,
she says that Chiyo has to help Pumpkin with Chiyo’s lessons. It is illustrated in
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Teacher Mouse didn't speak for a long while, but just looked me over and then said, "You're a clever girl. I can see it just from looking at you. Perhaps you can help your older sister with her lessons." (Chapter 4).
Her clevers is also shown by Chiyo when she decided to leave the Okkiya.
She asks to Mother to let her go from the Okkiya and lives with the Chairman.
She decides to leave the Okkiya because she wants to be an independence woman.
Not only independence woman but also she moving to New York and opening a
tea house. Chiyo’s proposes her idea to the Chairman that she wants to be opening
a tea house and he agrees with her. It is illustrated in the following dialogue:
"Have I mentioned to Danna-sama," I began, "that I've had the strangest feeling lately?"
I glanced at him, but I could see no sign that he was even listening. "I keep thinking of the Ichiriki Teahouse," I went on, "and truthfully, I'm beginning to recognize how much I miss entertaining."
The Chairman just took a bite of his ice cream, and then set his spoon down on the dish again.
"Of course, I can never go back to work in Gion; I know that perfectly well. And yet I wonder, Dannasama. . . isn't there a place for a small teahouse in New York City?" (Chapter 35)
The dialogue above described that Chiyo will be opening a tea house in
New York City. It is done by Chiyo because of her smartness.
3.1.2 Brave
Chiyo’s brave character also presents through her action. As a young
women who separated with her older sister, she has to obey to Hatsumomo in
order to meet with her older sister.She does all of Hatsumomo’s command with
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Mameha’s kimono. Hatsumomo is very jealous to Mameha as a success geisha.
So that, she makes Mameha’s kimono broken. It was done by Chiyo with her
bravery because she wants to know where her older sister live. It is described in
the following quotation:
...When it was good and black, she dipped a brush in it and smoothed its tip against the stone-so that all the ink was absorbed in the brush and none of it would drip. Then she put it into my hand, and held my hand over the lovely kimono, and said to me: "Practice your calligraphy, little Chiyo."
This kimono belonging to the geisha named Mameha-whom I'd never heard of at the time-was a work of art. Weaving its way from the hem up to the waist was a beautiful vine made of heavily lacquered threads bunched together like a tiny cable and sewn into place. It was a part of the fabric, yet it seemed so much like an actual vine growing there, I had the feeling I could take it in my fingers, if I wished, and tear it away like a weed from the soil. The leaves curling from it seemed to be fading and drying in the
autumn weather, and even taking on tints of yellow. (Chapter 6)
The quotation above describe that Chiyo practice to make a calligraphy in
Mameha’s kimono with her braveness. She does that because she wants to know
where her older sister live. When she knows where her older sister live, she leaves
the Okkiya to meet her older sister. Although it is forbidden for her to leave the
Okkiya without permission. It is stated by Mother in the following dialogue:
"Well, little girl," Mother told me, "you're in Kyoto now. You'll learn to behave or get a beating. And it's Granny gives the beatings around here, so you'll be sorry. My advice to you is: work very hard, and never leave the okiya without permission. Do as you're told; don't be too much trouble; and you might begin learning the arts of a geisha two or three months from now. I didn't bring you here to be a maid. I'll throw you out, if it comes to
that."(Chapter 3)
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leaves the Okkiya without permission. She meets with her older sister can be seen
in the following dialogue between Chiyo and her older sister:
"Oh, Chiyo," she said, and then she reached up to scratch her face. Or at least, I thought she was scratching her face, for I couldn't see well. It took me a moment to understand she was crying. After this I could do nothing to hold back my own tears.
"I'm so sorry, Satsu!" I told her. "It's all my fault." Somehow or other we stumbled toward each other in the dark until we were hugging. I found that all I could think about was how bony she'd grown. She stroked my hair in a way that made me think of my mother, which caused my eyes to well up so much I might as well have been underwater.
"Quiet, Chiyo-chan," she whispered to me. With her face so close to mine, her breath had a pungent odor when she spoke. "I'll get a beating if the mistress finds out you were here. Why did it take you so long!"
"Oh, Satsu, I'm so sorry! I know you came to my okiya . . ."
"Months ago." (Chapter 7)
The dialogue above tells that Chiyo meets her older sister. Her older sister
and her make a plan to run off the Okkiya. She awares that her planning is a risk
when she is found out by her Mother. Finally, she makes a deal with her older
sister to run off the Okkiya. She will leave the Okkiya on Tuesday night and meet
her older sister in the area of Minamiza theatre. Her planning to run off the
Okkiya told by text:
"I have to run away, Chiyo. I can't stay here in this place any longer."
"I'll come with you!"
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She makes a plan with her older sister to run awayfrom the Okkiya. But, her
planning is detected by Hatsumomo. Meanwhile, Hatsumomo tells her planning to
Mother. Because of that, her plan is failed and she get a punishment from Mother.
All of the plan was done by Chiyo with her brave.
3.1.3 Self-Determined
Actually every body has to be determined for their better life. It also applied
by Chiyo to make her life better than before. When she feels suppressed in the
Okkiya, she is determined to run away from the Okkiya. She decided to meet with
her older sister and make a plan to run away from the Okkiya. But, her planning
is found out and get a punishment from her Mother in Nitta Okkiya. She is
threatened to become a servant all of the time. When she is bewail her sadness, a
Chairman comes and entertains her. Meanwhile she feels his kindness, she
decided to become a geisha. She decides to become a geisha in order to she can
meet with him. Actually, she does not want to become a geisha. It can be seen in
the following sentences:
To become a geisha ... well, that was hardly a purpose in life. But to be a geisha ... I could see it now as a stepping-stone to something else. With my eyes squeezed tightly shut and my hands together, I prayed that they permit me to become a geisha somehow. I would suffer through any training, bear up under any hardship, for a chance to attract the notice of a man like the Chairman again. (Chapter 9)
From the text above Chiyo prayed in order to she can become a geisha. It is
her determined to become a geisha in order to meet with a man like the Chairman.
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condition. Since she lives in Okkiya, she is become a maid. So that she wants to
become a geisha.
I don't think Hatsumomo could have found anything crueler to say to me. For a year and a half now, I'd been condemned to the drudgery of a maid. I felt my life stretching out before me like a long path leading nowhere. I won't say I wanted to become a geisha; but I certainly didn't want to remain a maid. I stood in the garden of the school a long while, watching the young girls my age chat with one another as they streamed past. They may only have been heading back for lunch, but to me they were going from one important thing to another with lives of purpose, while I on the other hand would go back to nothing more glamorous than scrubbing the stones in the courtyard. (Chapter 9)
To become a geisha . . . well, that was hardly a purpose in life. But to be a geisha ... I could see it now as a stepping-stone to something else. If I was right about the Chairman's age, he was probably no more than forty-five. Plenty of geisha had achieved tremendous success by the age of twenty. (Chapter 9)
On the text above, Chiyo wanted to become a geisha and did not want to
remain her maid. Unexpectedly when she wanted to become a geisha, Mameha as
a success geisha come to the Okkiya. At that time, Chiyo says to Mameha that she
wants to become a geisha. She will do anything to be a geisha. It can be seen in
Chiyo’s speech:
'My goodness, she can't even keep her own maids from running away!' That sort of thing. But what will you do with yourself now, Chiyo? You don't look to me like a girl who wants to live her life as a maid."
"Oh, ma'am ... I'd give anything to undo my mistakes," I said. "It's been more than two years now. I've waited so patiently in the hopes that some opportunity might come along." (Chapter 10)
From Chiyo’s speech, it can be said that she has strong determation to
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than what she has at that time. She will do anything to get an opportunity to
become a geisha. She thinks her life will be better that before when she becomes a
geisha. When she becomes geisha, she has an opportunity to meet with the
Chairman. It is related to the existence of her danna.
When she is success become a geisha, she declares her love to the
Chairman. Although her virginity was taken by Dr. Crab’s. She is express her love
to the Chairman even then she gets a punishment. As a geisha, she is forbidden to
love a man and express her love.
"What I did on Amami, I did because of my feelings for you, Chairman. Every step I have taken in my life since I was a child in Gion, I have taken in the hope of bringing myself closer to you." (Chapter 34)
From the quotation above, it means that Chiyo has a strong determination to
have a better life, to get an opportunity to become a geisha, and get the Chaiman’s
love.
3.1.4 Tough
Chiyo faces her difficult condition since she was 12 years old. Her mother is
sick and she will die. But, it does not make Chiyo surrendered. She does anything
for her mother.
"I haven't the money, Doctor," my father said.
"We've all grown poorer lately. I understand what you're saying. But you owe it to your wife. She shouldn't die in that tattered robe she's wearing."
"So she's going to die soon?"
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Because of Chiyo’s social condition, her older sister and she are sold by
her father to an Okkiya. She can not meet her mother again. Not only that but also
she lives separately with her older sister. Her sister and her live in different
Okkiya. It makes Chiyo lives without her family. Actually she has a feeling that
she is going to live separately with her older sister and may not to meet each
other. It is illustrated in the following quotation:
When we came to a halt before a doorway, Mr. Bekku instructed me to get out. He climbed out behind me, and then as if the day hadn't been difficult enough, the worst thing of all happened. For when Satsu tried to get out as well, Mr. Bekku turned and pushed her back with his long arm.
"Stay there," he said to her. "You're going elsewhere."
I looked at Satsu, and Satsu looked at me. It may have been the first time we'd ever completely understood each other's feelings. But it lasted only a moment, for the next thing I knew my eyes had welled up with tears so much I could scarcely see. (Chapter 3)
The quotation above saysthat Chiyo is affraid to leave separately with her
older sister. Since her older sister leaving the Okkiya, she tries to survive her life
in the Okkiya as a maid. She can not live without her family. When she lives in
the Okkiya, she gets some mistreatment from Hatsumomo. She dislikes Chiyo
because she does not want Chiyo becomes a geisha. One day she gets an
opportunity to become a geisha. She has to study hard about geisha because
geisha’s training is not simple. But, she has to learn even though geisha’s training
is very difficult. It is illustratedin the following quotation:
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much as she always has. And still, she sleeps no more than three to five hours every night. (Chapter 11)
The quotation above described that geisha’s training is not simple. But,
chiyo is success to pass the training. Some years ago she is success become a
geisha. As a geisha, Chiyo has to unscrew her virginity to the danna. She hopes
that her secret love become her danna. The fact is Dr. Crab’s becomes her danna
as a man who has the highest offered.
When Mameha noticed at the sumo tournament that Nobu seemed taken with me, she thought at once of how much Nobu resembled Fujikadoself-made and, to a man like Dr. Crab, repulsive. Ther was what Mameha
hadmeant by "catching Hatsumomo off-balance." Hatsumomo was delighted that Nobu found me attractive;what she didn't realize was that my popularity with Nobu would very likely drive up the price of mymizuage. (Chapter 19)
Clearly we had to reclaim Dr. Crab's affections. Without him Nobu could offer what he wanted for my mizuage that is, if he turned out to have any interest in it at all. I wasn't sure he would, but Mameha assured me that a man doesn't cultivate a relationship with a fifteen-year-old apprentice geisha unless hehas her mizuage in mind. (Chapter 19)
The quotation above tells that Dr. Crab’s becomes the winner of the
mizuage ceremony. She feel sad because her danna is not the Chairman. She will
lose her opportunity to get the Chairman’s love. But, she is strong with the
difficult condition and prove herself as a tough women.
3.2 Chiyo’s Existence
Based onJean Paul Sartre’s theory in existentialism“I am condemned to be
free. This means that no limits to my freedom can be found except the freedom
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willdo to get the essence. And this determination is done by making choices.
However, a freedom to make a choice is accompanied by a deep fear. Because,
with the choiceshuman declare their responsibility not only to themselves but also
to others. Acoording to sartre, human realizes that they exist. It means that human
realizes that they face the future, and realize what they do. It pressures on human
responsibility (Tafsir 226-227). Meanwhile on the analysis below, it will explain
about the existence of the main character (Chiyo) in novel Memoirs of a Geisha. It
is about his freedom and responsibility.
3.2.1 Chiyo’s Freedom
Chiyo’s freedom starts when Chiyo was ten years old. She has mother who
can only lie down in her bed every single time.Their economic condition is very
poor which is being the main reason why her father sell her and her older sister
(Satsu) to Mr. Tanaka the factory owners of Japan Coastal Seafood Company
fabric from Senzuru. She was sold by her father with her sister to an Okkiya
(House of Geisha training) in Gion district on Kyoto province. She is very sad
because she can not meet her parents.
We all watched her float away, and then Mr. Bekku handed me over to the older women in the entryway. He climbed back into the rickshaw with my sister, and the driver raised the poles. But I never saw them leave, because I was slumped down in the entryway in tears. The older women must have taken pity on me; for a long I lay there sobbing in my misery without anyone touching me. (Chapter 2)
The text above shows that Chiyo is very sad. Chiyo cries because she has
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Okkiya in Gion district which name Okkiya Nitta. Nitta is name of the owner of
Okkiya. Because of she is very sad, she decides to run off the Okkiya with her
older sister. It is become the freedom of Chiyo to run off the Okiya. She does that
because she wants to be free although she knows the risk when she is found out. It
is discribed in the following narration:
"I have to run away, Chiyo. I can't stay here in this place any longer."
"I'll come with you!"
"I have a train schedule hidden under the tatami mats upstairs. I've been stealing money whenever I can. I have enough to pay off Mrs. Kishino. She gets beaten whenever a girl escapes. She won't let me go unless I pay her first." (Chapter 7)
Chiyo decided to run away with her older sister. She is promise that she will
meet her older sister on Tuesday. She decided to meet in across of river in
Minamiza theatre. Like in a text in the novel:
"Tuesday. We'll run away Tuesday late at night, five days from now. I have to go upstairs, Chiyo. A man has come for me."
"But wait, Satsu. Where will we meet? What time?"
"I don't know . . . one in the morning. But I don't know where."
I suggested we meet near the Minamiza Theater, but Satsu thought it would be too easy for people to find us. We agreed to meet at a spot exactly across the river from it. (Chapter 7)
When Chiyo runs a way from the Okkiya, she is found out. She is very sad
because she can not go out of the Okkiya all of time. In a sad state, she meets with
the Chairman in the area of Shirakawa. Chairman then gave encouragement to
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“I only ever saw the Chairman in a short time once in my life, but since then I missed a lot of time thinking about him...” (Chapter 17).
...The entire goal in everything I did during the ten last years is to win the affection of the chairman...(Chapter 29).
Based on the text above, the researcher knows that since her meeting with
the Chairman, she loves him. Chiyo loves the Chairman because he is very kind.
Meanwhile Chiyo decides to become a geisha in order to become a famous
woman and meet the Chairman. Only famous man and woman who can meet the
Chairman. It is done by Chiyo because she is very love to the Chairman. Because
of that, she decides to become a geisha in order to meet with him and have a
chance to get the Chaiman’s love. It is illustrated by Chiyo in the following
dialogue:
To become a geisha ... well, that was hardly a purpose in life. But to be a geisha ... I could see it now as a stepping-stone to something else. With my eyes squeezed tightly shut and my hands together, I prayed that they permit me to become a geisha somehow. I would suffer through any training, bear up under any hardship, for a chance to attract the notice of a man like the Chairman again. (Chapter 9)
From the text above means that Chiyo wants to become a geisha for a
chanceto attract the notice man like the Chairman. It means that she loves him. To
get the Chairman’s love she decides to become a geisha. She is responsible for her
choice. As a woman who wants to become a geisha, she has to study hard and
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3.2.2 Chiyo’s Responsibility
Chiyo has to be responsible toward her choices that choosen. Befor she
decides to become a geisha she is very sad because her condition. She hasto
become a servant in Okkiya without her family. She can not life without her
family. Because of that, she decides to run away from the Okkiya. She has to be
responsible and face the risk when she founds out. It is illustrated in the following
narration:
Well, little girl,‖ Mother told to me, ―you are in Kyoto now. You’ll learn to behave or get a beating. And it is Granny gives the beatings around here, so you’ll be sorry. My advice to you is: work very hard, and never leave okiya without permission. Do as you’re told, don’t be too much trouble, and you might begin learning the arts of a geisha two or three months from now. I didn’t bring you here to be a maid. I’ll throw you out if it comes to that. (Chapter 2)
When Chiyo runs away from the Okkiya, she falls and her arm is broke.
To repair her leg, a doctor comes and takes her to a clinic nearby. All of
administration in clinic are pay by mother of okkiya. It needs seventy five yen that
becomes a debt of Chiyo to Okkiya. Because of that, Chiyo has to be paying when
she become Geisha.
"I suppose you could repay it after ten or fifteen years as a geisha," she went on, "if you happened to be a success. But who would invest another sen in a girl who runs away?" (Chapter 9)
The text above tells that Sayuri has to repay all of debt to Okkiya. When
she is bewail her matter because of an intention to run away, she gets a latter from
Mr. Tanaka Ichiro and Auntie reading the latter for Chiyo. Mr. Tanaka said in the
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Sugi’s son. She is very sad to hear that. When she is bewail her destiny, she
meets with a Chairman and entertain her. The dialogue can be see in Chapter 9:
"Here you are ... a beautiful girl with nothing on earth to be ashamed of," he said. "And yet you're afraid to look at me. Someone has been cruel to you ... or perhaps life has been cruel."
"I don't know, sir," I said, though of course I knew perfectly well.
"We none of us find as much kindness in this world as we should," he told me, and he narrowed his eyes a moment as if to say I should think seriously about what he'd just said. (Chapter 9)
From the moment, Chiyo has a new spirit and tries to become a geisha. It
is a choice of Chiyo to become a famous geisha and she has to be responsible for
her choice. To become a famous geisha she has to be leraning hard. But, Chiyo is
put to be a maid and Mother makes her chances to be a geisha lose as a
punishment of her escaping effort from Okkiya. Surprisingly, a very popular
geisha comes to Nitta Okkiya and ask to Mother that she wants to train Sayuri to
become a geisha. The name is Mameha. Meanwhile Chiyo promises to Mameha
that she will learn and work hard to be geisha. Sayuri’s promises is discribe in the
following dialogue:
"Mameha-san, I promise you, such a thing will never happen with me," I said. "Thanks to you, I feel like a ship encountering its first taste of the ocean. I would never forgive myself for disappointing you."
"Yes, well, that's all fine, but I'm not just talking about how hard you work. You'll have to be careful not to let Hatsumomo trick you. And for heaven's sake, don't do anything to make your debts worse than they are. Don't break even a teacup!" (Chapter 10).
Because her promises, she learns and works hard everyday. Geisha’s
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difficult. Not only training but also she has to work during the afternoon and
evening very much as she always has. She sleeps no more than three to five hours
every night. No matter how hard she has to do. She is very happy because the
opportunity to become a geisha is widely open now. The difficult of geisha’s
training is described in the following naration:
What make a geisha's training- so difficult isn't simply the arts she must learn, but how hectic her life becomes. After spending all morning in lessons, she is still expected to work during the afternoon and evening very much as she always has. And still, she sleeps no more than three to five hours every night. During these years of training, if I'd been two people my life would probably still have been too busy. I would have been grateful if Mother had freed me from my chores as she had Pumpkin; but considering her bet with Mameha, I don't think she ever considered offering me more time for practice. Some of my chores were given to the maids, but most days I was responsible for more than I could manage, while still being expected to practice shamisen for an hour or more during the afternoon. In winter, both Pumpkin and I were made to toughen up our hands by holding them in ice water until we cried from pain, and then practice outside in the frigid air of the courtyard. I know it sounds terribly cruel, but it's the way things were done back then (Chapter 11).
The text above tells that geisha’s training is very difficult and it is not
simply. Besides geisha’s training that very difficult, she has to face senior geisha
who hate her. The name is Hatsumomo. Hatsumomo is a popular geisha in Gion
and the only one successful geisha in Nitta Okkiya. She is a beautifull geisha
which has no humanity and very cruel. All of people in Nitta Okkiya help her
everyday in order to she become the best geisha in the Gion. One day she asks
Chiyo to make Mameha’s kimono stolen. She does that because she is jealousto
Mameha as a success geisha. Because of that, Chiyo has to be responsible for
I m r o n i | 39
she makes Mameha’s kimono stolen, she has to repay and get punchfrom
Grandmother. It can see from the illustration:
"We've talked about that enough," Granny said. "The girl should be beaten and made to repay the cost of the kimono, and that's that. Where's the bamboo pole?"
"I'll beat her myself," Auntie said. "I won't have your joints flaring up again, Granny. Come along, Chiyo."
"What have you done to Hatsumomo? She's bent on destroying you. There must be a reason, and I wantto know what it is."
"I promise you, Auntie, she's treated me ther way since I arrived. I don't know what I ever did to her." I didn't much care whether she beat me or not; it seemed to me that nothing could make my situation worse. Every time my body jolted under the pole, I wailed as loudly as I dared, and pictured
Hatsumomo's lovely face smiling down at me. (Chapter 6)
The illustration above tells that Chiyo has to repay the cost of Mameha’s
kimono and she get punch from Grandmother. Actually, she does that because of
Hatsumomo’s compulsion.Hatsumomo does not want Chiyo become a geisha. She
does not want there is new geisha in Nitta Okkiya. Hatsumomo often trickies her
in order that she will be expelled from the Okkiya and does not harm her position
in the Okkiya. The text that Hatsumomo wants Sayuri to be expelled from the
Okkiya are illustrated in the narration:
"I don't understand ..." I said, "about debt'?"
"Hatsumomo's little trick with that kimono is going to cost you more money than you've ever imagined in your life. That's what I mean about debt."
Auntie had told me never to trust Hatsumomo, even if she offered to help me. But when I reminded myself how much Hatsumomo hated me, I
I m r o n i | 40
In the text above, Auntie tells her that Hatsumomo’s little trick with
Mameha’s kimono is going to cost her more money and she will be expelled from
Okkiya. Hatsumomo does that because she predicts that Chiyo’s beauty will make
her an exist geisha in Gion. Meanwhile, Hatsumomo does some trick in order to
make Chiyo expelled from the Okkiya and she become a singglegeisha in the
Okkiya. When Chiyo is success become a geisha, Mameha change her name from
Chiyo become Sayuri. Chiyo is success to become a famous geisha. When she is
success to become a geisha, she has to unscrewedher virginity to a danna who has
a higher price. Unscrewed of virginity is called mizuage in Japan. Mizuage was a
ceremony undergone by a Japanese maiko (apprentice geisha) to signify her
coming of age. Mizuage is described in the following dialogue:
"We call what 'mizuage''?"
"The first time a women's cave is explored by a man's eel. That is what we call mizuage.
Now, mizu means "water" and age means "raise up" or "place on"; so that the term mizuage sounds as ifit might have something to do with raising up water or placing something on the water. If you get three geisha in a room, all of them will have different ideas about where the term comes from. Now thatMameha had finished her explanation, I felt only more confused, though I tried to pretend it all made acertain amount of sense. (Chapter 19)
The text above tells that mizuage has to be done by Chiyo. Mameha will
make Chiyo’s mizuage is the highest price in the history of geisha all of time.
Chiyo hopes the Chairman whose she loves become a danna of her. The fact is
Dr. Crab’s is the winner with the highest mizuage’s price. So, Dr. Crab’s become
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When Mameha noticed at the sumo tournament that Nobu seemed taken with me, she thought at once of how much Nobu resembled Fujikadoself-made and, to a man like Dr. Crab, repulsive. Ther was what Mameha
hadmeant by "catching Hatsumomo off-balance." Hatsumomo was delighted that Nobu found me attractive;what she didn't realize was that my popularity with Nobu would very likely drive up the price of mymizuage. (Chapter 19)
Clearly we had to reclaim Dr. Crab's affections. Without him Nobu could offer what he wanted for my mizuage that is, if he turned out to have any interest in it at all. I wasn't sure he would, but Mameha assured me that a man doesn't cultivate a relationship with a fifteen-year-old apprentice geisha unless hehas her mizuage in mind. (Chapter 19)
In the text above, Dr. Crab’s becomes the winner of the highest mizuage’s
price. Chiyo’s virginity are taken by Dr. Crab’s. Chiyo has no power to refuse the
mizuage. Event though she dislike Dr. Crab’s, she has to be willing her virginity
taken by him. She is very sad and she thinks over about the Chairman and feels
guilty to him. She is very sad because she does not doing her first sexual with the
Chairman as a man who she love. But, because of that she find her self-reliance.
3.2.3 Chiyo’s Self-Reliance
Chiyo’s identity starts when she was in mizuage events. Her virginity was
taken by Dr. Crab’s. Actually, she dislikes Dr. Crab’s but she has no power to
refuse the mizuage. She has to obey the rules of a geisha even though she
unconscious that her virginity will be taken by Dr. Crab’s. Although her virginity
wastaken by Dr. Crab’s, she is still loving the Chairman. It is illustrated in
following quotation:
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The quotation above said that she loves the Chairman. She loved him
when she was 12 years old. Chiyo does not care even though her age are younger
33 years than him. Because of that she decided to become a geisha in order to
meet and get his love. The following quotation that shows Sayuri’s promise to
herself:
To become a geisha ... well, that was hardly a purpose in life. But to be a geisha ... I could see it now as a stepping-stone to something else. With my eyes squeezed tightly shut and my hands together, I prayed that they permit me to become a geisha somehow. I would suffer through any training, bear up under any hardship, for a chance to attract the notice of a man like the Chairman again. (Chapter 9)
The quatation above tells that Chiyo wants to become a geisha in order to
have a chance to attract of a man like the Chairman. Her secret love continues
until she becomes a successful geisha. But, her choice makes her loss her virginity
unconsciously. She feels loss her chance to get the Chairman’s love. Sayuri thinks
that there is no way for her to get love from the Chairman anymore. One day she
meets with the Chairman in a tea house. She does not want loss a chance to
declare her love to him. So, Chiyo comes to the Chairman and say that she loved
him since she met him when she was 12 years old. The declaration of Chiyo’s
love describe in the following dialog:
"Please forgive me for what I am about to say," I finally managed to begin.
I tried to continue, but somehow my throat made up its mind to swallow though I can't think what I was swallowing, unless it was a little knot of emotion I pushed back down because there was no room in my face for any more.
