On the surface, Snow Falling on Cedars is about the murder trial of Kabuo Miyamoto, an American of Japanese descent charged with murdering Carl Heine, a fellow salmon fisherman; however, the trial really provides a framework for an analysis of the effect that the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II had on the people of San Piedro Island, a small island in the Pacific Northwest.
Snow Falling on Cedars opens in present-day , at the start of Kabuo's trial, but the narrative moves back and forth in time. The trial itself takes only three days, but the novel spans the pre-war, World War II, and post-war eras. The novel explores the effects of war, the difficulties of race, and the mystery of human motivation.
The characters act and react to one another and with one another in a combination murder mystery and courtroom drama, as well as provide the story of a doomed love affair. The text taken as a whole is a meditation on prejudice and justice and the effect that one has on the other.
On San Piedro, everyone is either a fisherman or a berry farmer, and because World War II scarred everyone, a decade later the islanders are still trying to establish some semblance of normalcy.
This proves difficult, though, since the Japanese islanders — many of whom were American citizens — were taken away and imprisoned during the war. Upon their return, those of Japanese descent faced prejudice, grudges, and anti-Japanese sentiment, and those who were interned had some prejudices of their own. So did the land dispute or the wartime internment lead to the circumstances of Carl Heine's death?
Only circumstantial evidence and a possible motive exist to accuse Kabuo, but nonetheless, he is jailed for 77 days and is tried in court. Points of view shift during the telling of the story, as Guterson uses flashback not only to show how the characters perceive the events of the alleged murder but also to reveal what had happened before and during the war.
Two main stories unfold and eventually merge. One of the reporters covering the trial is Ishmael Chambers, he himself a war veteran, but Ishmael is not an objective observer: Because of the war, he has lost his arm and the love of his life.
Guterson explores a variety of related themes, including how racism can and does undermine justice in a court of law. He also examines the notions of fairness and forgiveness on a personal and social level, along with the feeling of alienation. Connections exist between justice and morality; between love, betrayal, and redemption; and between a character's public and private trial. All these things are examined and re-examined as Kabuo's trial continues. Guterson's novel was generally well received, with his knowledge of the Pacific Northwest and his attention to detail garnering him the most praise.
Many critics consider Snow Falling on Cedars a great story but an even better rendering of people and place. His descriptions of the island and the people who live there have been called "incredible.
Some question Guterson's style, however, claiming that Snow Falling on Cedars doesn't know whether it's a serious mystery or social commentary. SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. Themes Motifs Symbols. Important Quotes Explained. Mini Essays Suggested Essay Topics. Previous section Suggestions for Further Reading. Test your knowledge Take the Context Quick Quiz. The other thing was to do something that you feel has a positive impact on the world.
He has three forthcoming books: a memoir, Descent , from Vintage in ; a new story collection, Problems with People , from Knopf in ; and a book of poems, Songs for a Summons , from Lost Horse Press in He lives in Washington State. Related Books and Guides. American Wife. Curtis Sittenfeld. Super Host. When These Mountains Burn. Arthur Phillips. The Great Santini. The Book of Daniel. Summer Crossing. Truman Capote. All the Birds, Singing.
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Frances de Pontes Peebles. Three Comrades. Erich Maria Remarque. Arch of Triumph. Evidence places him at the scene of the crime, and he is also shown to be a liar. The night before the end of the trial, Ishmael makes a discovery.
While visiting the lighthouse for a story on the weather, he finds the notes from the night watchman that can clear Kabuo. Ishmael has to decide what to do: Does he keep the information to himself, use his newspaper to support Kabuo's case, and then work himself back into Hatsue's life while her husband is in jail, or does he reveal what he knows?
The end of the novel focuses on Ishmael's decision-making process and reveals exactly what happened on the night in question. The search for truth and justice comes to an end as Ishmael makes the morally and ethically correct decision to share his discovery. He also decides to make peace with Hatsue and get on with his life. Next About Snow Falling on Cedars.
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