The Nobel citation especially praises three of Kawabata's works - "Snow Country", "The Old Capital" and "Thousand Cranes". "The Old Capital" is perhaps the most direct and accessible story amongst Kawabata's major novels, and is most blatant about Japanese heritage and the threats it faces - when Paul Klee, Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall are mentioned alongside the discussions of novel designs of kimono parts, the post-war anxiety of "cultural invasion" becomes very obvious. "The old capital" refers to Kyoto, and the novel is a breathtaking travel guide in its own right, in that it takes the readers through the beautiful architectures of the city and incorporates its major festivals in its narration which is often decorated by epic descriptions of seasonal changes. All these captivating illustrations of cultural heritage offer the backdrop for the life stories of a pair of twin sisters, who are separated at birth, which in turn serves as a commentary of the perpetual struggle and price of establishing, maintaining and passing on tradition. In this globalised age where individualism prevails, it's worth reconsidering the perennial question - are life and personal choices worth the sacrifice for the bigger, common good?
No comments:
Post a Comment