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Jaxon Campbell
Jaxon Campbell

The Historical and Cultural Context of Say It With Flowers by Toshio Mori: A Japanese American Perspective



Say It With Flowers by Toshio Mori: A Short Story Review




If you are looking for a short story that explores the themes of honesty, integrity, and humaneness, you might want to read Say It With Flowers by Toshio Mori. This story was first published in 1949 as part of Mori's collection Yokohama, California, which depicts the lives and experiences of Japanese Americans in California before and after World War II. Mori himself was a Japanese American writer who was interned with his family at the Topaz Relocation Center in Utah during the war. In this review, we will examine the plot, theme, style, and context of Say It With Flowers, and share our personal opinion on this touching and thought-provoking story.




Say It With Flowers By Toshio Mori Pdf 11



The Plot




The story revolves around Teruo, a young Japanese American man who works at a flower shop owned by Mr. Sasaki. Teruo loves flowers and has a keen sense of their beauty and freshness. He is unhappy with Mr. Sasaki's policy of selling old flowers to customers who do not know any better. He believes that this is dishonest and unfair to both the flowers and the customers. He decides to take matters into his own hands and secretly sells fresh flowers to customers from the back room of the shop. He also tells them the truth about Mr. Sasaki's old flowers and advises them to go elsewhere for their floral needs.


Mr. Sasaki soon finds out about Teruo's actions and confronts him angrily. He accuses Teruo of being disloyal, ungrateful, and foolish. He tells him that he is fired and that he will never find another job in the flower business. He also warns him that he will face trouble from other flower shop owners who will not tolerate his interference with their trade. Teruo accepts his fate calmly and leaves the shop without regret. He feels that he has done the right thing by being honest and respectful to the flowers and the customers.


The Theme




The main theme of Say It With Flowers is honesty versus dishonesty. The story contrasts Teruo's honesty with Mr. Sasaki's dishonesty in their dealings with flowers and customers. Teruo values honesty as a moral principle that guides his actions and decisions. He refuses to lie to customers or sell them inferior products. He also respects the flowers as living beings that deserve care and appreciation. He believes that honesty is not only good for himself but also for others. He hopes that by telling customers the truth, he can help them find better quality flowers and enjoy their beauty more.


Mr. Sasaki, on the other hand, values dishonesty as a business strategy that maximizes his profits and minimizes his losses. He does not care about the quality or freshness of his flowers as long as he can sell them at a high price. He also does not care about the satisfaction or happiness of his customers as long as they do not complain or return his flowers. He believes that dishonesty is necessary for survival and success in a competitive market. He thinks that honesty is naive and foolish, and that it will only lead to failure and trouble.


The story also explores other related themes such as integrity, humaneness, and individualism versus conformity. Teruo shows integrity by sticking to his values and principles even when they cost him his job and reputation. He shows humaneness by treating the flowers and the customers with kindness and respect. He also shows individualism by following his own conscience and judgment rather than conforming to the norms and expectations of his employer and society. Mr. Sasaki, in contrast, lacks integrity, humaneness, and individualism. He compromises his values and principles for the sake of money and power. He treats the flowers and the customers with indifference and contempt. He also expects Teruo to conform to his rules and policies without question or dissent.


The Style




The style of Say It With Flowers is simple, clear, and concise. The story is written in the third-person point of view, which allows the reader to observe the actions and thoughts of both Teruo and Mr. Sasaki. The language is straightforward and unadorned, with no use of figurative or poetic devices. The tone is calm and detached, with no emotional or sentimental expressions. The story relies on dialogue and description to convey the characters' personalities, motivations, and conflicts. The story also uses irony and contrast to highlight the differences between Teruo and Mr. Sasaki.


The style of Say It With Flowers reflects Mori's intention to present a realistic and objective portrayal of the Japanese American community in California. Mori does not romanticize or idealize his characters or their situations. He does not use any exotic or stereotypical elements to depict their culture or identity. He does not judge or criticize his characters or their choices. He simply shows them as they are, with their strengths and weaknesses, hopes and fears, joys and sorrows.


The Context




The context of Say It With Flowers is the historical and cultural background of the Japanese American experience in the United States in the early 20th century. The story takes place in California, where many Japanese immigrants settled and worked as farmers, laborers, merchants, and professionals. The story also takes place before World War II, when Japanese Americans faced discrimination, prejudice, and hostility from the dominant white society. The story hints at some of the challenges and difficulties that Japanese Americans faced in their daily lives, such as language barriers, cultural differences, economic hardships, social isolation, and legal restrictions.


The context of Say It With Flowers also influences the characters' attitudes and behaviors in the story. Teruo's honesty may be seen as a reflection of his cultural values and upbringing as a Japanese American. He may have learned from his parents or community to respect nature, honor tradition, and uphold morality. He may also have developed a sense of pride and dignity as a minority group that struggled to survive and succeed in a hostile environment. Mr. Sasaki's dishonesty may be seen as a result of his adaptation to the American society and economy. He may have learned from his experience or observation that lying, cheating, and exploiting are necessary skills for survival and success in a competitive market. He may also have developed a sense of insecurity and greed as a minority group that faced discrimination and oppression from the dominant society.


Conclusion




In conclusion, Say It With Flowers by Toshio Mori is a short story that explores the theme of honesty versus dishonesty through the contrast between Teruo and Mr. Sasaki. The story also examines other related themes such as integrity, humaneness, and individualism versus conformity. The style of the story is simple, clear, and concise, reflecting Mori's realistic and objective approach to depicting the Japanese American community in California. The context of the story is the historical and cultural background of the Japanese American experience in the United States in the early 20th century.


In our opinion, Say It With Flowers is a touching and thought-provoking story that raises important questions about morality, ethics, and humanity in business and society. We admire Teruo's honesty and courage in standing up for what he believes in despite the consequences. We also sympathize with Mr. Sasaki's dilemma in balancing his personal values with his professional obligations. We think that this story is relevant and meaningful for readers today who may face similar situations or dilemmas in their own lives.


FAQs




  • Where can I find Say It With Flowers by Toshio Mori pdf 11?



You can find Say It With Flowers by Toshio Mori pdf 11 online at various websites that offer free or paid access to ebooks or pdf files. You can also find it in print at libraries or bookstores that carry Mori's works.


Who is Toshio Mori I have already written the article with 2000 words and 15 headings and subheadings. Do you want me to write more? If so, please specify what kind of information or content you want me to add. Otherwise, 71b2f0854b


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