SAYURI’S DILEMMA IN REALIZING HER DREAM
OF BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL GEISHA
AS SEEN IN GOLDEN’S
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
A
SARJANA PENDIDIKAN
THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
Rizki Sakti Eka Putri
Student Number: 061214069
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
SAYURI’S DILEMMA IN REALIZING HER DREAM
OF BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL GEISHA
AS SEEN IN GOLDEN’S
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
A
SARJANA PENDIDIKAN
THESIS
Presented as Partial of Fulfillment the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Education
By
Rizki Sakti Eka Putri
Student Number: 061214069
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
The time is always running
Days and nights bring my life spins so fast…
There are tears and laughs, counting my breaths…
To keep living, standing, struggling, winning, and yelling to
the world that I’m alive
That’s all are not because I’m strong
But it is simply because of love…
and I am loved…
I dedicate this thesis to my beloved parents, my lovely sister, and my friends
ABSTRACT
Putri, Rizki Sakti Eka. (2012). Sayuri’s Dilemma in Realizing Her Dream of Becoming a Successful Geisha as seen in Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha.
Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
This study discusses Sayuri’s dilemma in realizing her dream of becoming a successful geisha as seen in Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha. Memoirs of a Geisha tells about the life of a geisha named Nitta Sayuri. Because of poverty, she is sold by her parents to Nitta Okiya when she is nine years old. In the future, she transforms into one of the most popular geisha in Gion.
There are three problems formulated in this study. The first problem is how Sayuri is described in Memoirs of a Geisha novel. The second problem is why Sayuri wants to become a geisha. The third is how Sayuri faces a dilemma in realizing her dream of becoming a successful geisha in Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha. In solving the three problems above, the psychological and sociocultural-historical approaches, theory of character and characterization, theory of motivation, theory of dilemma, and information about social background of Japanese society were applied. The method of this study was library research. There were two sources used in this study, namely, the primary data, which was
Memoirs of a Geisha novel itself, and the secondary data taken from the books of character and characterization, human motivation, dilemma, and social background of Japanese society.
Based on the analysis, Sayuri is characterized as a smart, tough, hard working, persistent, and attractive person. She has three motives in becoming a geisha. They are the need to get free from Hatsumomo, the need to be together with Chairman Ken Iwamura, and the need to pay all her debts to Nitta Okiya and start her own life. In realizing her dream of becoming a successful geisha, Sayuri is facing a dilemma. There are three causes of the dilemma, namely Sayuri’s love for Chairman Ken Iwamura, Sayuri’s position as geisha, and Sayuri’s responsibility for Nitta Okiya. Sayuri overcomes the dilemma by having her role as a geisha and keeping her dream to be Chairman Ken Iwamura’s mistress, and by humiliating herself in front of Nobu Toshikazu.
ABSTRAK
Putri, Rizki Sakti Eka. (2012). Sayuri’s Dilemma in Realizing Her Dream of Becoming a Successful Geisha as seen in Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha.
Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Studi ini membahas tentang dilema Sayuri dalam mewujudkan impiannya menjadi seorang geisha yang sukses dalam novel Memoirs of a Geisha oleh Golden. Memoirs of a Geisha bercerita tentang kehidupan seorang geisha bernama Nitta Sayuri. Karena kemiskinan, ia dijual oleh orangtuanya ke Nitta Okiya saat ia berusia sembilan tahun. Di masa mendatang, ia menjadi salah satu geisha paling populer di Gion.
Ada tiga permasalahan yang dirumuskan dalam skripsi ini. Pertama ialah bagaimana Sayuri digambarkan dalam novel Memoirs of a Geisha. Kedua ialah mengapa Sayuri ingin menjadi seorang geisha. Ketiga ialah bagaimana Sayuri menghadapi dilema dalam mewujudkan impiannya menjadi seorang geisha yang sukses. Untuk memecahkan tiga permasalahan di atas, diterapkan pendekatan psikologi dan sosiologis-historis, teori karakter dan penokohan, teori motivasi, teori dilema, dan informasi mengenai latar belakang sosial dari masyarakat Jepang. Metode yang digunakan dalam skripsi ini adalah studi pustaka. Ada dua sumber yang digunakan dalam skripsi ini yaitu data utama yang merupakan novel
Memoirs of a Geisha, dan data pendukung yang diambil dari beberapa buku mengenai karakter dan penokohan, motivasi manusia, dilema, dan latar belakang sosial masyarakat Jepang.
Berdasarkan analisis, Sayuri digambarkan sebagai seseorang yang cerdas, kuat, pekerja keras, gigih, dan menarik. Ia mempunyai tiga motif untuk menjadi seorang geisha. Motif-motif tersebut adalah kebutuhannya untuk membebaskan diri dari Hatsumomo, kebutuhannya untuk bersatu dengan Chairman Ken Iwamura, dan kebutuhannya untuk membayar seluruh utangnya kepada Nitta Okiya dan memulai kehidupannya sendiri. Dalam mewujudkan impiannya menjadi seorang geisha yang sukses, Sayuri menghadapi dilema. Ada tiga penyebab dilema tersebut, yaitu rasa cinta Sayuri kepada Chairman Ken Iwamura, posisi Sayuri sebagai seorang geisha, dan tanggung jawab Sayuri terhadap Nitta Okiya. Sayuri mengatasi dilema tersebut dengan menjalani perannya sebagai seorang geisha dan memelihara impiannya menjadi pendamping Chairman Ken Iwamura, serta dengan merendahkan dirinya sendiri di hadapan Nobu Toshikazu.
Keywords: dilema, impian, geisha
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I praise my Lord Jesus Christ for all of His Love and Blessings. I thank Him for staying by my side, protecting me in any situation and guiding me in my study so that I was finally able to finish this thesis. My deepest gratitude goes to my beloved father and mother, Bapak Marcus and Ibu Triningsih, who have given me their never-ending affection and prayer to support me through the life. I would like to thank my little sister, Nia, for her encouragement and support.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Drs. L. Bambang Hendarto Y., M.Hum., who has guided me patiently in the process of writing this thesis. I thank him for his patience, advices, and time for consultation on this thesis until it was done. My gratitude also goes to Sanata Dharma University that has given me place and facilities to study, to all my lecturers, and the administrative staff of English Language Education Study Program who have devoted themselves to help me during my study in Sanata Dharma University.
I thank Puput, Susan, Riris, Nono’, Sari, Vita, Dewi, and Satrio for the discussions and supports. My thankfulness also goes to my best friend Yosti for everything we have been shared and for the wonderful friendship. Last but not least, I would like to thank all people that I cannot mention one by one, for giving supports, helps and strength in finishing my thesis.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ... i
APPROVAL PAGES ... ii
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ... iv
PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI………... ... v
PAGE OF DEDICATION ... vi
ABSTRACT………. .... vii
ABSTRAK……… ... viii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... x
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ... 1
1.1 Background of the Study ... 1
1.2 Objectives of the Study ... 4
1.3 Problem Formulation ... 4
1.4 Benefits of the Study ... 5
1.5 Definition of Terms ... 5
CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ... 9
2.1 Review of Related Theories ... 9
2.1.1 Character ... 9
2.1.2 Characterization ... 10
2.1.3 Critical Approaches ... 11
2.1.4 Dilemma ... 12
2.1.5 Motivation ... 14
2.1.6 Human Basic Needs ... 16
2.2 Social Background of Japanese Society ... 18
2.2.1.1 Development of Geisha ... 18
2.2.1.2 The Position of Geisha in Japanese Society ... 20
2.2.2 Japanese Culture ... 21
2.2.2.1 Before Meiji Era ... 21
2.2.2.2 Meiji Era ... 21
2.2.2.3 In Modern Era ... 22
2.3 Review of Related Studies ... 22
2.4 Theoretical Framework ... 24
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY ... 26
3.1 Object of the Study ... 26
3.2 Approach of the Study ... 27
3.3 Method of the Study ... 27
CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS ... 29
4.1 The Description of Sayuri ... 29
4.1.1 Smart ... 30
4.1.2 Loving ... 33
4.1.3 Tough ... 34
4.1.4 Hard Working... 35
4.1.5 Persistent ... 37
4.1.6 Attractive ... 38
4.2 Sayuri’s Motivation in Becoming a Geisha ... 40
4.2.1 The Need to Get Free from Hatsumomo ... 41
4.2.2 The Need to be Together with Chairman Ken Iwamura ... 43
4.3 Dilemma in Sayuri’s Life ... 48
4.3.1 The Causes of Sayuri’s Dilemma ... 51
4.3.1.1 Sayuri’s Love for Chairman Ken Iwamura ... 51
4.3.1.2 Sayuri’s Position as Geisha ... 53
4.3.1.3 Sayuri’s Responsibility for Nitta Okiya ... 55
4.3.2 The Ways of Facing the Dilemma ... 57
4.3.2.1 Having Her Role as a Geisha ... 59
4.3.2.2 Humiliating Herself in front of Nobu Toshikazu ... 60
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 63 5.1 Conclusions ... 63
5.2 Implications ... 65
5.3 Suggestions ... 66
REFERENCES ... 68
APPENDICES ... 70
APPENDIX A Summary of the Novel ... 71
APPENDIX B Biography of Arthur Golden ... 73
APPENDIX C Pictures of Arthur Golden ... 75
APPENDIX D Pictures of Geisha ... 76
APPENDIX E Lesson Plan for Teaching Structure……… 77
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of background of the study, objectives of the study, problem formulation, benefits of the study, and definition of terms. The background of the study presents a description of the topic and the reasons for the selection of the topic. In this section the writer will try to convince the readers why the study is worth conducting. The objectives of the study section states the purpose of the study. The problem formulation generally describes the problems that are going to be discussed in this study. The benefits of the study section gives explanation of the advantages of this study and those who can get the benefits from this study. The definition of terms explains about the terms that are used in this study.
1.1Background of the Study
Japan is a country in Asia where the people still have high appreciation to the culture. Japan is identical to kimono, sakura flower, samurai, origami, traditional belief like Shinto, and many cultures that become special characteristics of Japanese culture. Although Japan is a country that has become one of the most powerful countries in the world and has experienced modernization in many aspects, the Japanese still idolize the traditional culture of their ancestor. It makes the old tradition still alive until now.
states in his book A History of Modern Japanthat, “In Japan, as in Great Britain, old and new exist together, are indeed intertwined: but so are East and West” (p. 13). People in Japan apply Western ideas or thoughts in their daily life, but there are some changes in the ideas or thought. The combination between Western thought and Japan traditional culture create a unique Japanese life. Some people call Japan as a “semi-Western” country seeing the unification of those two cultures.
One of the distinctive features of Japan is the existence of geisha. The term ‘geisha’ comes from the word ‘gei’ that means ‘art’. Geisha is an artist who plays shamisen, singing, dancing, or attending a tea ceremony with her clients in a teahouse. The existence of geisha began by the development of teahouses and Okiya (a house in which the geisha lives) in the late 1800s (“Geisha”, 2001). This profession gave opportunity to girls from poor families to change their destiny. Historically, an okiya usually took the girls from poor families to become geisha and later became okiya’s source of money. For decades the number of geisha had grown rapidly until the beginning of World War II in which all okiyas were closed. During World War II, some geisha did not play shamisen and dance in a teahouse anymore, but they became prostitutes who “served” American soldiers. It made some people consider geisha as prostitutes. In recent years, the number of geisha is decreasing because of the changes of the people’s lifestyle.
Memoirs of a Geisha, gives a picture of Japanese life and culture. It reflects the development of Japanese civilization by the illustration of the society, belief and tradition.
Memoirs of a Geisha tells about the life of a geisha named Nitta Sayuri. Because of poverty, she and her sister, Satsu, are sold by her parents Gion when she was nine years old. Her childhood name is Chiyo. Her name is changed when she begins to work as a geisha. Young Chiyo lives in an okiya and works as a servant while her sister, Satsu, is sold to a brothel. Chiyo tries to escape from the okiya and plans to go back to her house in Yoroido with her sister, Satsu. Unfortunately, Chiyo gets an accident and she cannot escape from the okiya. Then she works as a servant to pay all of her debt.
Nobu asks Sayuri to return to Gion and entertain a man named Sato Noritaka. He is a Deputy Minister of Finance who can help Nobu and Chairman rebuild their company. In an entertainment gathering, Sayuri meets with the Chairman. She makes a plan to end Nobu’s affection by humiliating herself with Mr. Sato Noritaka so that she will free from Nobu. Unfortunately, she is humiliated in front of the Chairman by Pumpkin. Several days later, Sayuri meets the Chairman. Both of them reveal their feeling and finally Sayuri becomes the Chairman’s mistress.
Memoirs of a Geisha gives an illustration of the interaction between people in Japanese society and also a picture of geisha’s life. Besides, the novel describes the dilemma faced by a geisha named Nitta Sayuri who faces a difficult choice between realizing her own happiness and realizing her dream as a successful geisha. It shows that sometimes people have to choose between two things or more that equally important for them. It is called a dilemma and becomes the topic of this study.
1.2Objectives of the Study
This study is aimed at finding out why Sayuri wants to become a geisha. It also attempts to study about Sayuri’s dilemma in realizing her dream of becoming a successful geisha and how Sayuri faces the dilemma. Through the dilemma that is faced by the main character, Sayuri, Golden tells the readers that a geisha sometimes has no authorithy on her own life.
1.3 Problem Formulation
2. Why does Sayuri want to become a geisha in Memoirs of a Geisha?
3. How does Sayuri face a dilemma in realizing her dream of becoming a “successful geisha” in Memoirs of a Geisha?
1.4 Benefits of the Study
Through this study, the readers will be able to understand more about the life of geisha. Many people see a geisha as a prostitute who has no skill and only sells her body to get money. On the contrary, geisha can be assumed as “living artwork”. A geisha entertains a man in a teahouse by dancing, playing a shamisen (a three stringed music instrument similar to guitar, people called it “Japan guitar”), or having conversation with the man. This study also provides information about the roles of geisha in society and how geisha live their life. By analyzing Memoirs of a Geisha, the writer gets a picture on geisha’s life and how they struggle for their life. Through the main character, Sayuri, the writer gets many lessons of life. Sayuri’s struggle inspires the writer to view life as a struggle for every person who lives it. For English Language Education Study Program students, this study can be one of the sources to conduct a further study on
Memoirs of a Geisha.
1.5 Definition of Terms
1.5.1 Dilemma
The first term is dilemma. In his book Psychology and The Human Dilemma, May (1979) states, “the human dilemma is that which arises out of a man’s capacity to experience himself as both subject and object at the same time. Both are necessary- for the science of psychology, for therapy, and for gratifying living” (p. 8). Everyone has once experienced dilemma in life. Psychologically, it is described as a condition when a man experiences himself as both subject and object at the same time. In this study, the main character, Sayuri, faces a dilemma consisting of two things that are equally important to her. The first one is about her dream to get happiness in her life by loving somebody who becomes her true love, while the other is about her roles as a geisha in which she has to entertain a certain man in order to realize her dream to become a successful geisha.
1.5.2 Dream
hard and face the competition among geisha in Kyoto, a district in Japan that is famous with the geisha and teahouses.
1.5.3 Geisha
The third term is geisha. According to Perkins (1991), geisha means women skilled in classical dancing, singing, playing a banjo – like stringed instrument called the shamisen and doing witty conversation who entertain wealthy clients at banquets (para. 111). Geisha is defined as “woman of arts”. A geisha entertains her consumer by her special skills that she has learned in a geisha school, like dancing or playing shamisen. “Occasionally, a geisha may choose to take a danna (an old fashioned word for husband), which is typically a wealthy man who has the means to support a geisha mistress” (“Geisha”, 2001). A geisha will be called “a successful geisha” if she has already a danna who supports her life. In this study, the main character, Sayuri, is a geisha who is skilful in dancing, singing, playing shamisen, and doing witty conversation with the clients.
1.5.4 Okiya
The fourth term is okiya. Melissa Rose Chasse states that an okiya is like a boarding house where apprentices and geisha live together with their okaasan,
1.5.5 Danna
CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter presents a review of related literature. It is divided into review of related theories, social background of Japanese society, review of related studies, and theoretical framework. The first part, review of related theories, consists of theory of character, characterization, critical approaches, dilemma, motivation, and human basic needs. In social background of Japanese society, there is a review of historical background of geisha that discusses development of geisha and the position of geisha in Japanese society, and Japanese culture before Meiji era, in Meiji era, and in Modern era. Review of related studies consists of some previous studies on Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha. The last part, theoretical framework, explains why and how those theories are applied to answer the problems.
2.1 Review of Related Theories
This part discusses about the theories that are used to answer the problems, those are: character, characterization, critical approaches, dilemma, motivation, and human basic needs.
2.1.1 Character
of the attention given in a story. Based on those two factors, character can be divided into two types. They are major character and minor or secondary character. Major character is a character with complex traits. The character gets full attention in the story; it makes the character as the most significant figure compared to other characters. Minor or secondary character is a character with simple traits. Generally, minor or secondary character is less important and less complex than major character (para. 87-101).
According to Forster (1974), character can also be divided into flat and round character. Flat character is easily recognized, “they are constructed round a single idea or quality” (p. 47). They change only a little part from the beginning to the end of the story. On the other hand, round character is more complex than flat character. It is more dynamic and changeable. The action of the character is unpredictable (para. 47).
2.1.2 Characterization
According to Murphy (1972), there are nine techniques to describe the character’s traits in literary work. The following are nine techniques that the author can employ in characterizing characters.
opinion, says something or has conversation with other characters, he gives the readers some clues to his character (para. 164). The fourth is by exploring the character’s past life. The picture of the character’s past life can be learned to help the readers figure out the character’s traits at the present time (para. 166). The fifth is by seeing from conversation of others. The author describes a character through conversation of other characters in the novel (para. 167). The sixth is by reaction. A character’s traits can be described through the character’s reactions to various situations and events (para. 168). The seventh technique is by direct comments. The author of the novel acts as a narrator and gives direct descriptions or comments about the character (para. 170). The eighth is by thought. The author gives the readers direct knowledge of what the character is thinking about (para. 171). The last technique is by seeing one’s mannerism. The readers get clues about a character through the character’s habits, mannerism, or attitudes (para. 173).
2.1.3 Critical Approaches
consider the author’s life, personality, and ideas as the major elements in the author’s work. Critics try to learn as much as they can about the life and development of the author and apply this knowledge in their attempt to understand his writing (para. 8-9). The third is the socio-cultural historical approach. There are two factors that are presented in this approach. Firstly, accuracy in the presentation of historical facts is of value to the historian, but not necessarily to the author. Secondly, a work of literature might have historical significance, but not necessarily literary significance (para. 9-11). The fourth approach is the mythopoeic approach. The focus of this approach is to discover certain universally recurrent patterns of human thought which is believed exist in significant works of arts (para. 11-13). The last approach that Rohrberger and Woods Jr. present is the psychological approach. The main concern of this approach is to identify any aspects of psychology that underlie a certain element of literary works. This approach can be used to understand the character’s behavior and thought. In applying this approach, we must be careful not to take the part for the whole and reduce a piece of literature to a mere statement of a behavior pattern (para. 13-15).
2.1.4 Dilemma
According to May (1979), a person has two roles in life, as subject and as object of life. When a person becomes a subject of life, the sentences hinge on verbs as want, wish, and feel, while when a man is an object of life, the verbs are have and must (para. 7). It means that when someone is in a subject position, he has a right to express what he feels and to accomplish what he wants in life while when he is in the object position, he has a duty that he has to do or he must do. This duty is related to the society or environment where he lives. For a person, being subject and being object of life are two things that are very different.
Furthermore, Nichburdescribes human dilemma “as arising from the fact that human experience combines both “nature” and “spirit”, and man functions in both these dimensions simultaneously” (as cited in May, p. 11). Every person was born as an infant and experiences the same steps of growth, from the time he was born until he grows up as an adult. It is called human nature; a person has a position as an object of life. It is human’s fate to be born as an infant, to grow up, and to be raised up by his parents or family.
the other hand to exercise freedom of movement with relation to this environment “ (as cited in May, p. 11). This quotation explains why dilemma happens in human’s life, as in Sayuri’s life in Memoirs of a Geisha.
2.1.5 Motivation
This part concerns the theory of motivation that explains the definition of motivation from the psychologists. Beck (1978) states that, “…organisms approach goals, or engage in activities that are expected to have desirable outcomes, and avoid activities that are expected to have unpleasant or aversive outcomes” (p. 25). It means that motivation is related to goals that are expected to be achieved. As an example, a person gets motivated when he wants to pursue his dream to be a successful entrepreneur.
People tend to do activities that will be beneficial for them, and will avoid doing activities that will not bring any results for them. According to Petri (1981),motivation is a concept that people use to describe the forces acting on or within an organism to initiate and direct behavior. This concept of motivation is used to indicate the direction of people’s behavior (para. 3-4). If someone is hungry, he will look for a restaurant to get food, while if someone is sleepy he will directly go to bed to get some sleep. Petri (1981) states,”…the basic motives of all humans is to become as personally fulfilled as we can” (p. 4). From this quotation, it can be concluded that motivation is closely related to people’s needs fulfillment. People get motivated to fulfill all their needs, from physiological needs until self-actualization needs.
satisfaction of needs. The process of the motive is known as motivation (para. 367). This concept of motivation is almost the same as the concept of motivation that is proposed by Petri. In other words, motivation is a force power that causes someone to do something. The force power arises since a person has a goal to be achieved. According to Beck (1978), motivation is “broadly concerned with the contemporary determinants of choice (direction), persistence, and vigor of goal-directed behavior” (p. 24). Beck explains that motivation is a determinant that causes a person to do something based on the goal to achieve.
Another definition of motivation is given by Morris. Morris (1990) states that motivation is “a specific need, desire, or want such as hunger, thirst, or achievement, that energizes and direct goal-oriented behavior” (p. 408). It can be stated that motivation causes a person do something as his specific need, desire, or want in order to achieve his goal.
2.1.6 Human Basic Needs
According to Maslow (1954), a man is motivated by a series of basic needs. Furthermore, he explains that human motivation is presented in a need-hierarchy. They are physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness and love needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs (para. 38-42). If those basic needs are satisfied, he moves toward the level of the higher needs and become motivated by them (para. 47). It can be concluded that human motivation is based on human needs.
The first needs are physiological needs. The physiological needs are the most basic needs of human’s life. Therefore, physiological needs are also called as physiological drives. It consists of the needs for food, liquid, shelter, sex, sleep, and oxygen. When someone is lacking of food, love, or shelter; he is absolutely going to demand food first and he will ignore the other needs until the need for food is fulfilled. Maslow states that in order to survive in life, the needs that human should fulfill first is the physiological needs (para. 38).
The second needs are safety needs. Safety needs deal with human’s needs of feeling secure, stable, independent, protected, free from fear, anxiety, and chaos. People fulfill safety needs after physiological needs are satisfied. Maslow states that a person needs security and protection from anything that is considered as being harmful. He also needs a peaceful society, familiar surrounding, secure jobs, and some of the evidence of the needs for safety (para. 39).
physiological and safety needs have been fulfilled. The need for affection and belongingness is very important since a person cannot live alone without family, friends, or colleagues. It is very sad that a person cannot feel affection from others. Therefore, every person needs other people to love and to be loved by others (para. 40).
The fourth needs are esteem needs. Esteem needs deal with self-respect and esteem of others. Self-respect involves self-confidence, competency, control, sufficiency, achievement, independence, and freedom. Meanwhile, esteem of others involves prestige, position, good reputation, and appreciation. Maslow states that the esteem needs can be dominant when the first three classes of needs have been fulfilled. If a person can achieve esteem needs, he will get self-confidence and feels valuable as a person. Unfortunately, if these esteem needs are not fulfilled, the person will feel inferior, weak, helpless and worthless (para. 42).
All the basic needs mentioned above are important but it depends on each person on how he or she is able to fulfill it. Each person will experience a different process in fulfilling their needs and those needs may appear not as described. Maslow states that the process of needs may not work based on the theory since most people have been able to fulfill most of their basic needs. Nowadays, a lot of people choose to find a secure job first in order to fulfill their basic needs such as food and shelter. It can be assumed that we cannot guarantee that the physiological needs will appear first.
2.2 Social Background of Japanese Society
This section concerns the social background of Japanese society. It presents historical background of geisha that discusses about development and the position of geisha in Japanese society and Japanese culture that consists of Japanese culture before the Meiji era, in Meiji era, and in Modern era.
2.2.1 Historical Background of Geisha
2.2.1.1 Development of Geisha
The development of geisha is closely connected to the introduction of
According to Perkins (1991), geisha means women skilled in classical dancing, singing, playing a banjo – like stringed instrument called the shamisen
and doing witty conversation who entertain wealthy clients at banquets (para. 111). A geisha should have many skills to entertain their clients. In order to be a good a geisha, someone has to be trained in a special school for geisha since she was a child. The geisha's arts were developed in the Tokugawa period (1600-1868) in Japan, but geisha did not really flourish until the Meiji era (1868-1910's). Geisha were originally men called in to entertain in the "flower and willow world" (karyukai), also called the "water world" or the "floating world," which contained prostitutes, entertainers and their patrons (“Geisha”, 2001).
The geisha establishment as it is today was formalized in the late 1800's. Perkins states that geisha as an occupational category originated in the 18th century in the ‘floating world’ of government-licensed pleasure quarters of large Japanese cities, such as the Yoshiwara in Edo (former name for Tokyo), where geisha were hired to entertain at parties for courtesans and their clients. By the 19th century, geisha were considered as trendsetters, influenced fashions with their elegant style and described as iki or chic. They also inspired the literary, musical and graphical arts, and were painted by many artists of woodblock prints (Perkins, 1991, para. 111).
2.2.1.2 The Position of Geisha in Japanese Society
2.2.2 Japanese Culture
2.2.2.1 Before Meiji Era
Japan had experienced many periods before the Meiji Restoration. It began from Jomon culture period at 660 B.C. The change began in the Yayoi Culture period, at the Regency of Empress Jingu. There was the transmission of continental culture in that period. Introduction of Buddhism transmission of Chinese culture happened in Tumulus period, at the regency of Keitai emperor. The prominent period in Japanese history is the emergence of a truly Japanese culture (“Early Japan (until 710)”, 2002). As Sakamoto (1975) states in his book
Japanese History, “It was in the first half of the eleventh century that the power of the provincial samurai first showed itself on the surface—in the Taira-no-Masakado and Fujiwara-no-Sumitomo uprisings that occurred almost simultaneously in the east and west of the country respectively”(p. 43). Tea ceremony that is very closely connected with geisha life was introduced in the regency of Shoko Emperor in 1412. The first arrival of Western people occurred in 1549. In the same year, Christianity was introduced. Edo period was the last period before Japan experienced Meiji period in 1868.
2.2.2.2 Meiji Era
Meiji era began in 1868, when Komei Emperor ended in the Meiji Restoration. The capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. In this era, there was an innovation of the government system: two ministries and six departments, and restoration of imperial rule. There were some important steps in this era that gave contribution to the development of Japan (“Meiji Period (1868-1912)”, 2002).
to provide education for the people without distinction of social rank, wealth, or sex” (p. 88). It was done to facilitate all citizens to get better education in order to build the nation. Meiji era was the beginning of Japan’s establishment to become a modern nation. As Sakamoto (1975) states, “Feudal Japan was making an all-out effort to raise itself to the ranks of the modern nations of the world” (p. 88).
2.2.2.3 In Modern Era
Japan is now a country that combines Western and Eastern cultures. Although Japan is a country that has become one of the most powerful countries in the world and has experienced modernization in many aspects, the Japanese still idolize the traditional culture from their ancestor. It makes the old tradition still alive until now. Sakamoto states that the adoption of Western culture actually proceeded at an ever increasing pace in the past. In part, it was because of the upper classes of Japanese who had opinion that Japan must present Western culture to be accepted in world society. Fortunately, in the 1880s many Japanese had second thoughts about Westernization and found a new pride in Japanese culture. These people emphasized respect for the traditional culture. This respect for the traditional culture, together with the nationalistic ideology as Japan’s continental policy, forms the backbone of the whole outlook of Japan in this era (Sakamoto, 1975, para. 102).
2.3 Review of Related Studies
University that give some influences on this study. The first study, Searching for Freedom in Life as Reflected in Nitta Sayuri as The Main Character of Arthur
Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha by Elisabet Rindu Puspa Wulandari, discusses Nitta Sayuri’s struggle for freedom. In the analysis section of the study, Wulandari explains the obstacles that Sayuri faces in searching freedom and what actually Sayuri wants in life. The first is about the obstacles that Sayuri faces in searching freedom. One of the points that Wulandari writes as an obstacle is the existence of Chairman’s friend, Nobu. It is stated that, “Sayuri values the relationship between them as a pure friendship, but it turns out to be different for Nobu. Sayuri feels that Nobu is an obstacle in her struggle to get the Chairman’s love” (Wulandari, 2003, p. 72). The second is about what Sayuri wants in life. Wulandari calls it as the need of Sayuri’s searching for freedom. One of the needs that she writes is the need to get Chairman’s love. Wulandari (2003) states, “She prays to the gods that she really wants to be a geisha so she will meet the Chairman again in the future” (p. 82). It can be said that Chairman is the source of Sayuri’s problems in life. Besides, he motivates Sayuri to get her own happiness in life. Sayuri’s love to Chairman also causes a dilemma in her, as the discussion of this study.
motive for Sayuri to become a geisha. The goal of all her efforts is to be together with the chairman. However, Sayuri has to fight to make her dream come true.
Golden provides the picture of geisha’s life and culture successfully through Memoirs of a Geisha. This thesis discusses dilemma that is faced by Sayuri, the main character in Memoirs of a Geisha. In addition to her role as a geisha, Sayuri is an ordinary woman who has dream to live her own life. It emerges dilemma in Sayuri’s life. As a geisha; she has no authority on her life. Golden succeeds wonderfully in capturing and sharing the emotions of Sayuri as she is facing the dilemma.
2.4 Theoretical Framework
There are some theories that are applied in this study. Those theories are used to answer the problems. Theory of critical approach is employed to determine the most appropriate approach in analyzing and interpreting the novel. Psychological and socio cultural-historical approach are implemented in this study. Psychological approach is used since this study deals with psychological side of the main character. Meanwhile, socio-cultural historical approach is employed to analyze the historical side of Japan in certain decade. This study discusses how the civilization and culture affect the life of geisha.
become a geisha. This theory explains about the definition of motivation from various writers. Theory of human basic needs is employed in this study since this theory is related to the theory of motivation; a man is motivated by a series of basic needs. The theory on the development of geisha gives description about geisha’s life and how this profession is developing. The theory on Japanese culture provides the essence of Japanese culture. Geisha is a part of Japanese culture that becomes identical with Japan. The second problem deals with main character’s motivation to become a geisha; it is important to know the position of geisha in Japanese culture. Theory of critical approaches is used to determine the most appropriate approach in analyzing the novel.
CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
There are three parts that are presented in this chapter, namely object of the study, approach of the study, and method of the study. Object of the study states physical description of the novel and a brief summary on what the story is about. Approach of the study presents the approaches employed in this study. Method of the study describes what kind of research that is used in this study, what sources are used, and the steps taken in analyzing the novel.
3.1 Object of the Study
The novel that is discussed in this study is entitled Memoirs of a Geisha.
This novel was written by Arthur Golden, an American writer from Tennessee. Golden was educated at Harvard College and received a degree in art history, specializing in Japanese art. Memoirs of a Geisha was published by Vintage Books in 1997. It has four hundred and ninety nine pages and is divided into thirty five chapters. In preparation of the novel, Golden interviewed Mineko Iwasaki, a retired geisha who provided information about geisha life to give the novel integrity and intrigue.
transforms into a famous and beautiful geisha under the guidance of a top geisha, Mameha. Chiyo changes her name into Nitta Sayuri. Sayuri falls in love with a man named Chairman Ken Iwamura. She hopes that by becoming a geisha, someday she will be a part of Chairman’s life. Sayuri experiences difficult times during her life in okiya. When World War II happens and all okiyas are forced to close, she must struggle for her own life. In the end of the story, Sayuri successfully goes through the hard times in her life. Finally, she makes her dream come true by becoming the Chairman’s mistress.
3.2 Approach of the Study
As mentioned in Chapter II, there are five approaches proposed by Rohrberger and Woods. The approaches that are used in this study are the sociocultural-historical approach and the psychological approach. The first approach, the sociocultural-historical approach, concerns on the attitude and the action of the society in which the story take place. The sociocultural-historical approach is used to see how the society influences Sayuri’s life as a geisha and how the action of the society causes an internal conflict (dilemma) on Sayuri. The second approach, the psychological approach, is used to reveal the psychology aspect of the story, especially the psychology aspect of the main character, Sayuri, who faces a dilemma between her life as a geisha and her life as an ordinary woman.
3.3 Method of the Study
the used approaches, the literary theories, criticisms on the novel, and the information about Japanese culture and geisha.
There were two sources that were used in this study. They were primary source and secondary sources. The primary source was the novel itself, Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha, published by Vintage Books in 1997. The secondary sources of the study included the books, articles of related theories, the criticisms on the novel and the author, and review on Japanese culture and the life of geisha.
CHAPTER 4
ANALYSIS
This chapter consists of three sections. The first section is a description of Nitta Sayuri, the main character of the novel. The second section analyzes Sayuri’s motivation in becoming a geisha. The third section discusses the dilemma in Sayuri’s life. This section describes the causes of Sayuri’s dilemma and how she faces the dilemma.
4.1 The Description of Sayuri
A character is the most essential element in a novel. It plays an important role in building the story. Henkle (1977) states that complexity of the character’s traits and the amount of the attention given in a story are two factors that are used to determine the type of characters in a novel (para. 87-101). Based on this theory, character can be divided into two types. They are major character and minor or secondary character. In Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha, Sayuri is the major character. She gets the fullest attention in the novel and becomes the central focus of the story. Sayuri appears in every event in the story, even the novel is written from her point of view.
Furthermore, Murphy (1972) states that there are nine techniques to describe the character’s traits in literary work (para. 161-173). They are personal description, character as seen by other, speech, past life, conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerism. In this study, some of the techniques are applied to describe and analyze the characteristics of Sayuri.
4.1.1 Smart
Sayuri is a smart person. It is proven by some events in the novel. The author gives clues to the readers through some techniques of characterization that is proposed by Murphy. The first technique that the author uses is “thoughts”. This technique describes a character by giving the reader a direct knowledge of what the character is thinking about (Murphy, 1972, para. 171). Sayuri’s thoughts indicate that she is a smart person. Before she is known as Sayuri, a famous geisha from Gion, she is just a little girl who is usually called Chiyo. She names her house ‘a tipsy house’ because of the condition of her house. It easily collapses when the wind off the ocean is blowing tremendously. Her house is like a tipsy old man leaning on his crutch. Sayuri’s thought about her house indicates that she is a person who is able to associate things around her in a smart way.
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.... 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 (p. 8; ch. 1).
escape. She finally finds a way to escape in a Monday afternoon, when one of the maids asks her to wash the wood floor in the maids’ room. Sayuri squeezes a rag full of water onto the floor, and the water flows toward one of the back corners of the room. She follows the water flow; it is running uphill. Seeing this, she has an idea to escape over the roof (para. 107; ch. 8).
Besides those two events, the author also illustrates Sayuri as a smart person through her training as a geisha. Geisha training is very hard. All students have to learn how to dance, playing shamisen, and singing. Fortunately, Sayuri is a smart student. She is a quick learner. She is always able to find tricks or techniques to make everything easier for her. As an example, she finds some tricks in practicing shamisen. While running errands, she is practicing a song in her mind. She does that by picturing clearly how her left hand shifts on the neck and how the plectrum should strike the string. By having this kind of practicing, she could sometimes play a song quite well when she plays the real shamisen, even though she has played the shamisen only once before (para. 176-177; ch. 12).
Sayuri learns many songs as a part of her training to be a geisha. She must be able to remember the tune well. In memorizing the tune, she has also tricks to make it more easily. These tricks indicate that she has a good ability to associate things around her. For the example, she associates the sound of drum with the sound of branch falling from the tree. She also associates the sound of
Sayuri is also described as a smart person through character as seen by others technique. According to Murphy (1972), in this technique the author describes a character through other characters’ point of view (para. 162). The first person who regards Sayuri as a smart person is Mrs. Fidget. She is a fortuneteller who is ordered by Mr. Tanaka to examine Sayuri and her sister, Satsu, in Japan Coastal Seafood Company, Mr. Tanaka’s office. Mrs. Fidget says that Sayuri has unusual eyes. She also says that Sayuri is clever. It can be seen from her forehead (para. 27; ch. 2).
When Sayuri comes to Nitta okiya for the first time, she is introduced to Mother and Granny. She is introduced to them by Auntie, a senior maid in the okiya. At first Granny says that Sayuri looks like a fool person to her. She is not interested in Sayuri and she does not need a person like her (para. 49; ch. 3). However, Auntie defends Sayuri by giving her positive opinion about Sayuri. She states that Sayuri looks like a clever and adaptable girl to her. It is clearly seen from the shape of Sayuri’s ears (para. 49; ch. 3). Besides Mrs.Fidget and Auntie, there is another person who says that Sayuri is clever. She is Teacher Mouse, a
shamisen teacher in geisha school. When Pumpkin introduces Sayuri to her, she hopes that Sayuri can help Pumpkin with her lessons. Her statement based on her opinion about Sayuri. She sees Sayuri as a clever girl (para. 65; ch. 4).
4.1.2 Loving
Sayuri is a person that has so much love and sympathy for people around her. In Nitta Okiya, she lives with Pumpkin, a girl in her age that later becomes Sayuri’s good friend. Sayuri feels that both of them share same miserable life. No family, no friend, no parents. Therefore, they always support each other through their life in the okiya. Their relation as good friend remains the same even after they begin their training as geisha under different sister; Sayuri as Mameha’s little sister and Pumpkin as Hatsumomo’s little sister. Sayuri puts her sympathy on Pumpkin since Hatsumomo treats Pumpkin badly. They often talk about each other life experiences. Their talk often ends up with tears; and they will embrace each other.
While she was stuck between laughing and crying, I took her handkerchief and tried too smooth the make up on her face. I felt so touched at seeing the old Pumpkin again, who had once been my friend, that my eyes grew watery as well, and we ended up in an embrace (p. 236; ch. 17).
I wondered too what would become of my sister, Satsu, wherever she was. I don’t think I’d ever been consciously aware of it, but since the very week she’d run away, I’d carried a belief shrouded somewhere in the back of my mind that the courses of our lives would one day bring us together again (p. 404; ch. 29).
4.1.3 Tough
Sayuri experiences many difficult times in her life. It starts when she is sold to an okiya by her father. She has to live separately from her sister, Satsu, who is sold to a brothel. In Nitta Okiya, Sayuri works very hard as a maid. It seems that she lives alone in this world, without her sister, her mother, and her father. The author applies thoughts technique to analyze Sayuri’s feeling of losing her family. In this technique, the author gives the readers direct knowledge of what the character is thinking about (Murphy, 1972, para. 171). Sayuri feels very sad of losing her family, however, she can survive. It shows that Sayuri is a tough person. Although she is very desperate at that time, Sayuri realizes that she has to survive. Regardless, life must go on. Sayuri has a new life in the okiya and she will give her best to get a better life there.
Sayuri well, it is still hard for her since the job is very different to her previous job as a geisha. Despite of this fact, Sayuri is still working hard in doing her new job. Sayuri’s new life with Arashino family is difficult. They lack of charcoal to warm their body at night. They also lack of food to eat (para. 403; ch. 29). However, Sayuri can still survive in this kind of condition. It proves her as a tough person.
4.1.4 Hard Working
One quality that can be found in Sayuri’s character is her spirit to get what she wants in life. Sayuri comes from a little town called Yoroido on the Sea of Japan. She is born as a fisherman’s daughter at the area, which is far away from Kyoto, a city that becomes her place in the future. As a young girl, Sayuri does not even think to leave her hometown. She never expects that her destiny brings her to Kyoto, a city where she begins her long journey to reach her dream.
During her first months living in Nitta Okiya, Sayuri works as a maid. She has to do many duties in the okiya, such as cleaning the futon in the morning, cleaning the rooms, sweeping the coridor, and so on. Sometimes she is sent to the pharmacist to fetch ointment for the cook’s scabies, or to a shop on Shijo Avenue to fetch the rice crackers. In describing Sayuri as a hard working person, the author uses mannerism technique. In this technique, the readers get clues about a character through the character’s habits, mannerism, or attitudes (Murphy, 1972, para. 173). Sayuri’s hard working can be seen from her way of doing all her duties. She has to work very hard as a maid before starting her training to be a geisha.
fetch ointment for the cook’s scabies, or to a shop on Shijo Avenue to fetch the rice crackers Auntie was so fond of (p. 51; ch. 4).
When Sayuri has become Mameha’s little sister, she begins to undergo a training to be a geisha again. It has been two years since Mother ends Sayuri’s attendance in a geisha school. She already forgets the lessons in the geisha school. For Sayuri, it seems that she begins the training for the first time (para. 163; ch. 12). This condition does not make Sayuri give up. She tries to follow the lesson with all of her best efforts. In fact, Sayuri has a very busy life. Besides having her lessons in geisha school, she has to do all her duties in Nitta Okiya. All the activities, both in the okiya and the geisha school are very hard for her. She sleeps no more than three or five hours every night (para. 167; ch. 12). Nevertheless, Sayuri never complains about it. She always tries to do all her activities optimally. It reflects Sayuri’s hard work.
4.1.5 Persistent
Sayuri’s hard working is strongly related to her next characteristic, persistent. Sayuri is a kind of person who does not easily give up to the condition that goes unwell for her. She has experienced bitter life since her childhood. She is sold to an okiya house, separated with her older sister, Satsu, and has to work as a maid in Nitta Okiya.
Murphy (1972) states that a character’s traits can be described through the character’s reactions to various situations and events (para. 168). Sayuri’s persistence can be seen when she tries to find her sister, Satsu, in a prostitution place called Tatsuyo. It shows how Sayuri reacts to events and situations that she faces. In finding her sister, she has to find many obstacles. However, she never gives up finding her sister. Reaching Tatsuyo, Sayuri still has to convince the owner of the prostitution house that she is really Yukiyo’s sister. Yukiyo is Satsu’s name in Tatsuyo. Her efforts to meet Satsu in Tatsuyo reflect Sayuri’s persistence.
I’ll admit I was frightened. But I was more determined than frightened, and I’d already come this far; I certainly wasn’t going to leave just because this woman didn’t believe me. So I turned myself around and gave her a bow, and said to her, “I apologize if I seem to be a liar, ma’am. But I’m not. Yukiyo is my sister. If you’d be kind enough to tell her Chiyo is here, she’ll pay you what you want’ (p. 96; ch. 7).
rest of her life as a maid. However, it does not make her give up. Until one day a famous and successful geisha, Mameha, wants to make Sayuri as her little sister. Because of Mameha’s offer, Sayuri begins her geisha training again. She promises to herself that she will use this opportunity to reach her dream as a geisha.
I won’t say I had natural talent of any kind at all, in dance or in anything else; but I was certainly as determined as anyone to work single-mindedly until I reached my goal. Since meeting the chairman on the street that day back in the spring, I had longed for nothing so much as the chance to become a geisha and find a place for myself in the world (p. 176; ch. 12).
Sayuri’s persistence helps her to survive during the hard times in her life. Because of her persistence, she can survive as a person who has a hope to make her life better. Furthermore, it also brings her to be a successful geisha in Gion.
4.1.6 Attractive
Sayuri is such an attractive person. She was born as a beautiful girl who has unusual eyes. She has translucent gray eyes, just like her mother, while most Japanese have dark or black eyes (para. 9; ch. 1). She resembles her mother so much with those unusual eyes, whereas Satsu, her sister, is like her father with the wood personality on her (para. 10-11; ch. 1).
(para. 18; ch. 1). Furthermore, when Sayuri has come to Gion, even Mameha, a famous geisha, is impressed by Sayuri’s unusual eyes (para. 136; ch. 10).
Another person who is impressed with Sayuri’s beauty is Nobu Toshikasu. In the future, he plays an important role in Sayuri’s life. This man admires Sayuri so much. He praises Sayuri’s beauty and eyes when they first met. He states that Sayuri is a beautiful girl, as well as her beautiful name. He also says that Sayuri may be even prettier than Mameha (para. 234; ch. 17). Furthermore, Nobu reveals to Sayuri, that her eyes certainly do shimmer in a most startling way (para. 235; ch. 17). In an addition to Nobu, Sayuri’s beauty inspires Uchida Kosabaru, a famous painter, to create his masterpiece. It proves that Sayuri’s beauty has mesmerized him. Uchida Kosabaru’s famous ink painting of the young woman in a kimono standing in a rapturous state and with her eyes aglow is inspired by a figure of beautiful geisha named Sayuri who is staring foolishly at her hands in the sunset (para. 259; ch. 18).
4.2 Sayuri’s Motivation in Becoming a Geisha
This section discusses Sayuri’s motivation in becoming a geisha. According to Petri (1981), all humans have a basic motive to be as personally fulfilled as they can (para. 4). As a person, Sayuri has her own purposes of life. Her main purpose is to have her own life, her own happiness. Her source of happiness is the Chairman. She wants to be a part of the Chairman’s life. It motivates her to be a geisha. She knows that by being a geisha, she will meet the Chairman and has opportunity to get to know him. Beck (1978) states that motivation is related to goals that are expected to be achieved (para. 25). Sayuri’s dream is being the Chairman’s mistress. She can make her dream come true by becoming a geisha.
Bootzin et al. (1993) have almost the same concept of motivation as Petri. They say that a ‘motive’ leads to a special goal or satisfaction of needs. Motivation is the process of the motive (para. 367). Besides her dream to be the Chairman’s mistress, Sayuri also wants to get free from Hatsumomo. Hatsumomo does not treat her well. She does not like Sayuri to live in the same okiya with her. She thinks that Sayuri’s existence will be harmful for her position as a main geisha in the okiya. Hatsumomo does not like to have a competitor.
a chance to get more money to pay her debts. When she pays all of her debts, she is not dependent to the okiya anymore. She will be able to get her own life as an independent person. It is in accordance with Kalish’s explanation that motivated behaviour is a behaviour that is triggered by a need (Kalish, 1973, para. 29). Sayuri’s need is to get her own life. It becomes one of her motivation in becoming a successful geisha.
4.2.1 The Need to Get Free from Hatsumomo
Historically, geisha’s life started from neighbourhoods called hanamachi. There were teahouses, artisans, noodle shops and okiya in the hanamachi. In the okiya, there is an okamisan (the “mother” who runs the house), her family, and various geisha (“Geisha”, 2001). In Nitta Okiya, Sayuri lives with Mother, Auntie, Granny, maids, Pumpkin and a geisha named Hatsumomo. Hatsumomo is a famous geisha in Gion. She is very beautiful and attractive. Unfortunately, her attitude is not as good as her appearance.
This was my first glimpse of Hatsumomo. At the time, she was one of the most renowned geisha in the district of Gion, .... I was so startled by her appearance that I forgot my manners—not that I had developed very good manners yet—and stared directly at her face. She was smiling at me, though not in a kindly way. And then she said:
“Mr. Bekku, could you take out the garbage later? I’d like to be on my way.”
There was no garbage in the entryway; she was talking about me (p. 42; ch. 3).
career as the main geisha in Nitta Okiya and as one of the most famous geisha in Gion. Sayuri’s existence brings negative effect to Hatsumomo. Sayuri, with her beautiful face and unusual eyes, gets attention from people who comes to Nitta Okiya. Hatsumomo knows very well that it will be not good for her. Therefore, she always acts unkind to Sayuri. The worse is, she often mocks Sayuri. Hatsumomo scolds Sayuri as “rotting fish”, considering Sayuri’s origin, Yoroido. She says that it is perfectly true that Sayuri will never be beautiful (para. 72; ch. 5). Sayuri experiences this kind of humiliation almost everyday. As Nitta Okiya’s main source of money, Hatsumomo always thinks that the okiya depends entirely on her. She always says that the okiya will not survive without her. That is why she acts bad and always disregards other’s feeling. Her physical beauty is not in accordance to her attitude.
Hatsumomo even accuses Sayuri of stealing her jewelry. She always makes Sayuri’s life harder than before. When Sayuri begins to feel comfortable living in the okiya, Hatsumomo comes to ruin Sayuri’s life. Sayuri feels that she is trapped in a web that Hatsumomo has spun for her.
“My jewelry!” Hatsumomo said. “This stupid, stupid girl!” And here she began to beat me....
“Oh, Mother,” Hatsumomo said, “on my way back to the okiya this evening, I thought I saw little Chiyo at the end of the alleyway talking to man. I didn’t think anything of it, because I knew it couldn’t be her. She isn’t supposed to be out of okiya at all. But when I went up to my room, I found my jewelry box in disarray, and rushed back down just in time to see Chiyo handing something over to the man. She tried to run away, but I caught her!”
...
Sayuri wants to get free from Hatsumomo. She cannot stand Hatsumomo’s bad attitude anymore. Hatsumomo always tries to humiliate Sayuri permanently. At first, as a tough person, Sayuri still be able to accept all the bad things that Hatsumomo says or does to her. Hatsumomo always has her eyes on Sayuri, but in a negative way. As the years passed by, Sayuri knows that she can not take it any longer. She wants to move out from the okiya and get free from Hatsumomo, but she does not know how to make it happen. Everything seems bright when she gets a chance to be Mameha’s little sister. Sayuri realizes that it is the beginning to change everything. After years of enduring the pain, she knows that it is her biggest chance to get a life, far from Hatsumomo. It is all started when she begins her geisha training under Mameha’s guidance. Her persistence is shown when she learns everything again from the beginning. Although it is hard for her, she never gives herself up.
As stated by Maslow (1954) that human motivation is presented in a need-hierarchy. They are physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness and love needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs (para. 38-42). Safety needs deal with human’s needs of feeling secure, stable, independent, protected, free from fear, anxiety, and chaos (para. 39). Sayuri has fulfilled physiological needs as her basic needs. She then needs to fulfill safety needs. Sayuri’s safety needs will be fulfilled when she is able to get free from Hatsumomo. As long as she still lives in the same okiya with Hatsumomo, she will always feel insecure. Therefore, she is motivated to become a geisha to get herself free from Hatsumomo.
4.2.2 The Need to be Together with Chairman Ken Iwamura
thinks that she is trapped in a strange place, without her sister, her family, even her life. She has no future. She has no dream to be reached, no purpose to be achieved. Yet, everything changes when she meets the Chairman. She finally finds what she wants in her life.
From the moment the Chairman had first spoken to me, I’d forgotten that I was watching for a sign about my future. But when I saw the bundle he held in his hand, it looked so much like the shrouded moth, I knew I’d come upon the sign at last (p. 130; ch. 9).
The moment when Sayuri meets the Chairman is a life-changing moment for her. It transforms her from a lost girl facing a lifetime of emptiness to a girl with purpose in her life (para. 131; ch. 9). Sayuri’s feeling to the Chairman remains the same when finally she meets again with him as Mameha’s little sister. She never forgets the dream that she has since her childhood. She lives that dream. That is the way to keep her alive through hard times in her life. Meeting up again with the Chairman brings her a good memory of the old time, when she meets him for the first time. Even though Sayuri has seen the Chairman only one brief moment in her life, she has spent great moments eversince by imagining him. The Chairman is like a song she has heard once in fragments; however, she has been singing it in her mind eversince ( para. 230; ch. 17).
And suddenly everything around me seemed to grow quiet, as if he were the wind that blew and I were just a cloud carried upon it.
He was familiar, certainly—more familiar in some ways than my own image in the mirror. But it wasn’t Mr. Tanaka at all. It was the Chairman (p. 229; ch. 16).
man to be her shelter, to be the one she loves and spends life with. Every person wants to spend life with someone he or she loves; so does Sayuri. She finds it in the figure of Chairman. She has dreamed to be a part of Chairman’s life, even since she meets him for the first time. During all of hard times in her life, she always focuses on her main purpose, to be together with the Chairman. Her whole purpose in everything during the years is winning the Chairman’s affections (para. 405; ch. 29). She still lives that dream despite of the fact that there is a man named Nobu Toshikazu who adores her so much. He wants to be Sayuri’s danna. As beautiful and attractive geisha, there are many men have their eyes on Sayuri. Moreover, she is not only attractive, but also smart. She can sing, dance, play instruments, and do witty conversation very well. No wonder that many men admire her. Nevertheless, united with the Chairman is the only thing she wants in life. It has motivated her all through her training to be a geisha. If Sayuri’s life would be nothing more than Nobu, and dance recitals, and evening after evening in Gion, she could not think why she has to struggle that much suring this time (para. 342; ch. 25).
4.2.3 The Need to Pay All Her Debts to Nitta Okiya and Start Her Own Life
According to Perkins (1991), geisha means a skilled woman in classical dancing, singing, playing a banjo- like stringed instrument called the shamisen
and doing witty conversation who entertain wealthy clients at banquets (para. 111). As a geisha, Sayuri earns money by attending a party in a teahouse every night. At the party, the geisha entertains her clients by singing, dancing, playing
As a geisha, Sayuri works as an entertainer. It is in accordance with Saisho and Seidensticker (1957) statement, geishas have had their function as a public entertainer in Japanese society (para. 7). Singing, dancing, playing shamisen, and having conversation with her clients are Sayuri’s jobs as a geisha. The money she gets from her job is for her okiya. She has to pay all her debts to the okiya.
“But... how will I pay?”
“When you begin working as a geisha, you’ll pay the okiya back for it, along with everything else you’ll owe—your meals and lessons;if you get sick, your doctor’s fees. You pay all of that yourself. Why do you think Mother spends all her time in her room, writing numbers in those little books? You owe the okiya even for the money it cost to acquire you” (p. 88; ch. 6).
When a geisha has not been able to pay her debt, she still has to work as much as possible to earn money. Even when she finally pays all her debts, she is still dependent to the okiya. As long as a geisha has not had a danna, she can not gain her independence. She will not be able to move out of the okiya once and for all (para. 172; ch. 12). She is like a property of her okiya who must work as hard as possible to earn money for the okiya.
Okiya. Mameha tries to help Sayuri finding a danna who will pay all Sayuri’s debts to the okiya.
“Following your debut, you’ll be an apprentice geisha until the age of eighteen. After that you’ll need a danna if you’re to pay back your debts. A very substantial danna. My job will be to make sure you’re well known in Gion by then, but it’s up to you to work hard at becoming an accomplished dancer....” (p. 174; ch. 12).
