Techniques - Discuss in Detail How Guterson Uses the Weather and Other Aspects of the Natural World as a Reflection on the World of Human Kind.
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- Category: English
- Date Submitted: 06/07/2010 05:54 AM
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Guterson uses many literary techniques in his novel to reflect on his views of the nature of human kind. Through his descriptions of the natural setting of the novel Guterson conveys the significance of San Piedro as a microcosm of the world of human kind, reflecting on the universal thoughts and emotions felt by all of humanity. Particularly, the descriptions of the weather establish parallels between the emotional turmoil of the characters and the state of the natural world. Furthermore, the extensive use of imagery in Snow Falling on Cedars symbolises the character’s anguish and consequently reflects on the emotions of humans on a grander scale while contrasts in nature – snow and cedars – exemplify the juxtaposition of ideals and the conflicting nature of human kind.
The natural setting of the novel conveys the contention between nature and human kind. Set in 1954 in the depths of winter, the date of the setting is symbolic of the turbulent community. The island setting is reflective of the isolation of the characters, enhancing the portrayal of San Piedro as a microcosm of the global community. Guterson portrays the harshness of life on an island, requiring the characters to adhere to a code of solitude. Consequently, the characters are silently forceful in their opinions pertaining to race and cultural distinctions. This is reflective of human nature to mask ‘the truth of [their] private nature’. Island location is reflective of the closed emotions of the characters. As a microcosm of the world, San Piedro illuminates bigotries and exacerbates the tension in the air. The island setting is also significant in conveying Guterson’s message that the only thing that individuals can control is the functioning of their emotions in the ‘chambers of the human heart’. An island is inherently vulnerable to outside forces, but does not have the power to establish its own dominance. For example, the self-contained characters were adversely affected by a war...
The natural setting of the novel conveys the contention between nature and human kind. Set in 1954 in the depths of winter, the date of the setting is symbolic of the turbulent community. The island setting is reflective of the isolation of the characters, enhancing the portrayal of San Piedro as a microcosm of the global community. Guterson portrays the harshness of life on an island, requiring the characters to adhere to a code of solitude. Consequently, the characters are silently forceful in their opinions pertaining to race and cultural distinctions. This is reflective of human nature to mask ‘the truth of [their] private nature’. Island location is reflective of the closed emotions of the characters. As a microcosm of the world, San Piedro illuminates bigotries and exacerbates the tension in the air. The island setting is also significant in conveying Guterson’s message that the only thing that individuals can control is the functioning of their emotions in the ‘chambers of the human heart’. An island is inherently vulnerable to outside forces, but does not have the power to establish its own dominance. For example, the self-contained characters were adversely affected by a war...