Assignment Paper 108: Exploring Dysfunction and Resilience: An Analysis of Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night

Title: Exploring Dysfunction and Resilience: An Analysis of Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night

This blog is part of assignment writing of Paper 108: The American Literature.

Personal Information:-

Name:- Pallavi Parmar

Batch:- M.A. Sem. 2 (2023-2025)

Enrollment Number:- 5108230034

E-mail Address:-pallaviparmar501@gmail.com

Roll Number:- 20

Assignment Details:-

Topic:- Exploring Dysfunction and Resilience: An Analysis of Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night

Subject Code: 22401

Paper 108: The American Literature 

Submitted to: Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU,Bhavnagar.

Date of Submission:-26, April,2024

Table of Content:

Introduction

Eugene O'Neill

Analysis of "Long Day's Journey into Night"

Character Analysis

The Tyrone Family Dynamics

Themes Explored in "Long Day's Journey into Night"

Conclusion

References

Abstract:

This analysis examines Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night" focusing on dysfunction and resilience within the Tyrone family. It explores addiction, shattered dreams, and psychological turmoil among characters like Mary, James Sr., Jamie, and Edmund. Themes include a lack of stable home environment, substance abuse, blame, and shattered dreams. Despite dysfunction, elements of persisting love and emotional isolation emerge. The study also uncovers the destructive impact of scrutiny and judgment on communication and empathy within the family. Overall, it reflects on human resilience amidst familial discord in O'Neill's poignant portrayal.

Key Words:

Eugene O'Neill, Dysfunction, Resilience, Addiction, Shattered dreams, Family dynamics, Psychological turmoil

About Eugene O'Neill :

Born: October 16, 1888, in New York, N.Y., U.S.

Died: November 27, 1953, in Boston, Mass.

Early life: Son of a touring actor, O'Neill had an itinerant youth, working as a seaman, struggling with heavy drinking, and experiencing periods of being a derelict.

Writing career: Began writing plays while recovering from tuberculosis in 1912.

Breakthrough: His one-act play "Bound East for Cardiff" (1916) was produced by the Provincetown Players, marking the start of his successful career in theater.

Broadway success: "Beyond the Horizon" (1920) earned him his first Pulitzer Prize.

Themes: Explored tortured family relationships, idealism versus materialism, and existential themes.

Prolific output: Wrote numerous plays in the 1920s, including "The Emperor Jones" (1921), "Anna Christie" (1922; Pulitzer Prize), "Desire Under the Elms" (1925), and "Strange Interlude" (1928; Pulitzer Prize).

Later works: "Mourning Becomes Electra" (1931), "Ah! Wilderness" (1933; his only comedy), "The Iceman Cometh" (1946), and "Long Day’s Journey into Night" (produced 1956; Pulitzer Prize), considered his masterpiece.

Nobel Prize: Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1936, the first U.S. playwright to receive this honor. (Britannica)

Introduction to the Play and its Autobiographical Nature:    

"Long Day's Journey into Night" is considered one of Eugene O'Neill's greatest works, depicting a troubled family with raw honesty. It draws heavily from O'Neill's own difficult family experiences. O'Neill dedicated this play to his wife, Carlotta, recognizing it as a deeply personal work born from sorrow and struggle.

About the The Play:   

"Long Day's Journey into Night" is a powerful exploration of family dynamics, addiction, and shattered dreams. Set over one fateful day, the play exposes raw truths and unspoken resentments among the characters. Each member grapples with regrets and yearnings, mirroring Eugene O'Neill's own experiences. The play's metaphorical fog symbolizes the emotional barriers that plague the Tyrone family, highlighting themes of human frailty and the disintegration of the American Dream. "Long Day's Journey into Night" remains a canonical work in American drama, celebrated for its searing portrayal of familial breakdown and existential despair. 

About the Characters:

  Mary Tyrone:  

   Mary is the matriarch of the Tyrone family, suffering from a morphine addiction that began after childbirth. She is depicted as nervous, jumpy, and deeply nostalgic for her lost dreams of becoming a nun or concert pianist. Mary's addiction isolates her from her family, and she often retreats into memories to escape her present reality.

  James Tyrone Sr. (James):  

   James is the patriarch of the family, a former actor who prioritized financial security over artistic fulfillment. His miserly nature and regret over lost opportunities contribute to the family's dysfunction. James' frugality impacts the family's living conditions and healthcare choices, reflecting his impoverished upbringing.

  Jamie Tyrone:  

    Jamie is the eldest son, plagued by self-loathing and resentment towards his favored younger brother, Edmund. He copes with his bitterness through heavy drinking and sabotages Edmund's aspirations. Jamie embodies the cycle of dysfunction within the family, perpetuating destructive behaviors and unresolved conflicts.

  Edmund Tyrone:

     The youngest son, Edmund, aspires to be a writer but struggles with tuberculosis and guilt over his mother's addiction. Edmund retains hope despite his illness and family's turmoil, serving as a contrast to the other embittered family members. 

Other Characters:

Cathleen: 

   The Tyrone family maid, Cathleen observes the family dynamics and occasionally interacts with the family members, providing an outsider's perspective.

Eugene (Edmund) Tyrone Jr.: 

  Known as Edmund, he is the deceased youngest son of James and Mary Tyrone. His memory casts a shadow over the family, contributing to their emotional distress and dysfunction. (GRAY)

  

The Tyrone Family: A Microcosm of Dysfunction   

The play revolves around the Tyrone family, inspired by O'Neill's own family dynamics. They are caught in a cycle of resentment, addiction, and blame, unable to connect or find comfort. Each family member embodies different aspects of dysfunction, from the father's greed to the mother's addiction and the sons' struggles with alcoholism.

A Poignant Reflection on Family Dysfunction :

Through the Tyrone family's struggles, O'Neill provides a powerful portrayal of family dysfunction, exploring its many causes and consequences. The play holds up a mirror to the struggles of many American families grappling with addiction, communication issues, and the pursuit of material success at the expense of emotional well-being. O'Neill's work encourages audiences to confront their own family challenges and seek positive change.

Roots of Disintegration: External and Internal Factors    

O'Neill explores external factors like poverty, illness, and the societal impacts of World War II that contribute to the family's breakdown. Internally, issues like alcoholism, materialism, and the pursuit of material success over family values also play a significant role. The family's history of dysfunction passed down through generations adds to their challenges.

   

The Impact of Social and Historical Contexts    

O'Neill critiques the broader social and historical contexts of the time, including World War II and society's acceptance of alcoholism. The play challenges the myth of the "American Dream," showing the gap between societal ideals and family realities.

(Ghalith and Hadidi)

Lack of Stable Home Environment:

The Tyrone family's inability to establish a stable and respectable home significantly contributes to their dysfunctional dynamics. Mary, the mother, deeply desires a proper and nurturing home environment for her family, yet her husband, James Tyrone Sr., remains indifferent to the idea. This lack of a true home intensifies their feelings of suffering, loneliness, and disconnection from one another. Mary yearns for a home that could provide stability and unity, but James Sr.'s reluctance or inability to prioritize this creates a sense of rootlessness and discontent within the family.

Father's Miserliness and Material Obsession:

James Tyrone Sr.'s miserliness and obsessive pursuit of accumulating wealth and property have adverse effects on the family's well-being. His excessive focus on material possessions overshadows his familial responsibilities, leading to neglect and emotional distance within the household. Tyrone's sons criticize his materialistic tendencies, viewing them as detrimental to the family's happiness and health. The father's preoccupation with wealth accumulation not only fails to provide security and comfort but also contributes to the family's sense of dissatisfaction and disunity.

The Mother's Addiction and Escape from Reality:   

Mary Tyrone copes with her difficult life through morphine addiction. Her addiction stems from losing a child, unmet ambitions, and marriage disappointments. Mary's detachment from reality and repeated relapses strain family dynamics further.

 Alcoholism and Addiction:

Alcoholism and Mary's morphine addiction serve as central themes that contribute significantly to the family's decline in the play. These addictions result in heightened stress levels, financial strains, abandonment of familial duties, and fractured relationships. Mary's dependency on morphine, in particular, isolates her from her loved ones, worsening the family's already fragile state. The pervasive presence of addiction within the family exacerbates existing tensions and accelerates their descent into dysfunction and despair.

Legacy of Family Dysfunction:

The troubled backgrounds of both James Tyrone Sr. and Mary hint at a legacy of family dysfunction that spans generations. Tyrone's abandonment by his father during childhood left deep scars and unresolved emotional issues, impacting his own approach to parenthood. Mary's strained relationship with her mother underscores a pattern of fractured familial bonds that persist within the Tyrone family. These unresolved family dynamics from the past continue to shape and perpetuate dysfunction within the current generation, leading to further discord and instability. (Ghalith and Hadidi)

 Substance Abuse Issues:

In Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night", the Tyrone family is deeply affected by issues of substance abuse, particularly Mary Tyrone's morphine addiction. Mary's addiction becomes symbolic of the family's internal conflicts and unfulfilled aspirations. Despite her initial dreams of becoming a nun, Mary's dependence on morphine isolates her in a secluded world, where she struggles to be a present and nurturing mother to her two sons, Jamie and Edmund. Edmund's poignant observation that "she hated us" despite her love for them underscores the tragic impact of Mary's addiction on her family dynamics. Furthermore, Jamie's alcoholism and misanthropic behavior reveal deeper psychological issues, including an acute Oedipus complex, reflecting his troubled relationship with his mother and the dysfunctional environment within the family.

Lack of Communication/Connection:

The play's confined setting, taking place within a single room over the course of a day, emphasizes the family's profound lack of genuine communication and connection. Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue, the characters resort to monologues and negative banter, highlighting their inability to truly connect or resolve underlying issues. As the day unfolds, the discordance among family members and their starkly differing opinions become increasingly apparent, accentuating the breakdown in communication and understanding that contributes to their overall dysfunction.

Blame and Resentment:

Mary's persistent blame towards her husband, Tyrone, for the death of their young son, Eugene, epitomizes the family's tendency to assign blame rather than confront their shared grief. The sons, Jamie and Edmund, also harbor resentment towards their father for opting to administer morphine to Mary during childbirth as a cost-saving measure instead of seeking proper medical care. These unresolved tensions and accusations within the family contribute to a cycle of blame and resentment that further exacerbates their dysfunctional relationships and collective emotional turmoil.

Shattered Dreams/Regrets:

Tyrone's regret over abandoning his passion for acting in pursuit of financial security represents the family's collective sense of shattered dreams and unfulfilled aspirations. Despite once being a promising Shakespearean actor, Tyrone's decision to prioritize financial stability leads to a compromise that ultimately robs him of personal fulfillment. Similarly, Mary's decision to forego her dream of becoming a nun upon marrying Tyrone underscores the sacrifices made and the lingering regrets that haunt the family dynamics, contributing to their overall sense of disillusionment and discontent.

Psychological Turmoil:

Eugene O'Neill masterfully portrays the Tyrone family's profound psychological turmoil and regression throughout the play. Mary's denial and psychological entrapment reveal deep-seated unresolved issues stemming from her past, which intensify her struggle with addiction and emotional instability. O'Neill's deliberate portrayal of the family's emotional confinement within a "cage of destiny" underscores their profound inability to break free from cyclical patterns of dysfunction and despair. Each character's psychological turmoil adds layers to the family's complex dynamics, highlighting the tragic consequences of unresolved conflicts and unmet emotional needs within the Tyrone household. (Fathima)

Persisting Love:

In Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night", amidst the family's bitter conflicts and deep-seated dysfunction, a poignant theme of enduring love and attachment emerges among the Tyrone family members. Mary Tyrone, despite her struggles with morphine addiction and disillusionment, expresses unwavering love towards her husband and sons, stating, "we love each other. We always will..." This sentiment underscores a profound emotional bond that transcends their individual shortcomings and troubled past.

   The theme of persisting love adds complexity to the familial relationships portrayed in the play. Beneath the constant bickering and resentments, there exists an underlying foundation of affection that binds the Tyrone family together. This enduring love suggests a genuine desire for connection and reconciliation despite their struggles.

   O'Neill's depiction of persisting love amidst dysfunction reflects the resilience of familial ties and the universal capacity for forgiveness. It invites the audience to empathize with the complexities of human relationships and contemplate the enduring power of love amidst life's challenges.

Emotional and Psychological Impact of Isolation:

  One of the underlying themes in Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night" is the profound emotional and psychological impact of isolation on the Tyrone family. Despite living under the same roof, the family members are emotionally isolated from one another, trapped in their individual struggles and unable to form genuine connections. The play illustrates how this isolation contributes to their dysfunction. Each character feels profoundly alone in their suffering, unable to reach out or find solace in the presence of their family members. Mary Tyrone, in particular, longs for a nurturing home environment where she can find comfort and companionship, lamenting the absence of meaningful connections beyond superficial interactions. The family's isolation from external support networks exacerbates their internal conflicts and emotional turmoil. Without outside perspectives or sources of guidance, they become trapped in cycles of resentment, blame, and self-destructive behaviors.This theme of isolation highlights the devastating consequences of emotional disconnection within the family unit. It underscores the importance of meaningful relationships and mutual support in fostering emotional well-being and resilience.Ultimately, the portrayal of isolation in "Long Day's Journey into Night" invites reflection on the profound human need for connection and understanding. It emphasizes how emotional isolation can fuel dysfunction and exacerbate underlying issues, leaving individuals feeling isolated and powerless in their struggles.

The Destructive Impact of Scrutiny and Judgment:

In the play, there is a pervasive motif of scrutiny and judgment conveyed through the characters' furtive glances towards each other, particularly directed at Mary Tyrone. Mary is keenly aware of being observed by her husband and sons, which intensifies her sense of alienation and self-consciousness.

Mary's hyper-awareness of being watched manifests as defensiveness and insecurity. Even her son Jamie's uneasy gaze is enough to make her feel self-conscious and defensive, leading her to question their intentions and interpret every glance as a form of judgment, especially regarding her substance abuse.

This constant surveillance and scrutiny create a hostile atmosphere within the family. The judgmental glances contribute to an environment where no one feels safe to be vulnerable or open up. Every perceived mistake or slip-up is magnified, further alienating Mary and reinforcing her feelings of being "possessed" by her family's perception of her.

The oppressive weight of judgment doesn't just affect Mary externally but also has internal consequences, particularly on her son Edmund. Witnessing his mother's addiction, Edmund internalizes feelings of guilt and self-blame, believing that his sensitivity is somehow his fault.

The cycle of judgment through glances fosters assumptions and miscommunications within the family. Instead of fostering open dialogue and understanding, these furtive glances breed guilt, resentment, and ultimately drive the family members further apart into isolation and substance abuse as coping mechanisms.

So we can say that , the theme of scrutiny and judgment through glances underscores the breakdown of genuine communication and empathy within the Tyrone family. The characters' inability to communicate openly and honestly perpetuates a toxic cycle of judgment and alienation, deepening their emotional isolation and contributing to the overall dysfunction portrayed in the play.

Conclusion:

In nutshell, we can say that Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night" delves profoundly into the dysfunction and strength that exist in the Tyrone family. With themes of addiction, broken dreams and mental conflict, O'Neill refers a very touching family dispute and the full power of love which can conquer any adversity. The play's uncompromising realism and demonstration of isolation, scorn and condemnation is a part of the complex nature of human relationships, so it serves as a timeless piece in the history of American literature and still an inspiration for the viewers, due to the fact that it emphasizes dysfunction and resiliency in the title.

References: 

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Eugene O’Neill summary". Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2003, https://www.britannica.com/summary/Eugene-ONeill. Accessed 26 April 2024.

Fathima, Sabreen. “Eugene O'Neill's Portrayal of Turbulent Familial Relationships – A Re-examination of Mourning Becomes Electra, Desire Under.” worldlitonline, The Indian Review of World Literature in English, July-December 2021, https://worldlitonline.net/2021-july-articles/article-5-sabreen.pdf. Accessed 26 April 2024.

Ghalith, Asad Al-, and Alaa Al- Hadidi. “Family Disintegration in Long Day’s Journey into Night.” proquest, Common Ground Research Networks, 2023, https://media.proquest.com/media/hms/PFT/1/b8vSR?_s=gxuOoU%2FM32s5ZEazjZTRcO9aHQk%3D. Accessed 26 April 2024.

Raja. “Contradictions between Family Members in O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night.” IJNRD, International Journal of Novel Research and development, 5 May 2022, https://www.ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRD2205184.pdf. Accessed 26 April 2024.

Word Count: 2823

Images: 7

Assignment of Paper- 107 : Exploring Identity and National Crisis in Kazuo Ishiguro's "An Artist of the Floating World"

 Title: Exploring Identity and National Crisis in Kazuo Ishiguro's "An Artist of the Floating World"

Personal Information:- 

Name:- Pallavi Parmar

Batch:- M.A. Sem 2 (2023-2025)

Enrollment Number:- 5108230034

E-mail Address: pallaviparmar501@gmail.com

Roll Number:- 20

Assignment Details:-

Topic:- Exploring Identity and National Crisis in Kazuo Ishiguro's "An Artist of the Floating World"

Subject Code: 22400

Paper- 107- The Twentieth Century Literature: From World War II to the End of the Century

Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU,Bhavnagar.

Date of Submission:-26, April,2024.

Table of Contents :

Abstract

Keywords                                   

About Kazuo Ishiguro

About "An Artist of the Floating World" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Nation

Unreliable Narrator/Selective Memory

Post-War Japan

American Cultural Influence

Characterization of Masuji Ono

Conclusion

References

Abstract:

 "An Artist of the Floating World" by Kazuo Ishiguro (1986) explores the post-World War II identity crisis of Japan through the unreliable narration of Masuji Ono, a former propagandist artist. Themes of guilt, aging, and the impact of Japan's wartime actions intersect with Ono's personal journey of self-reflection and acceptance. The novel navigates generational conflicts, the shifting national identity of Japan, and the complexities of individual culpability amidst historical upheaval. Through Ono's selective memory and the novel's portrayal of post-war Japan, Ishiguro delves into the fluid nature of identity construction and the ongoing negotiation of personal and national redemption.

Keywords: Kazuo Ishiguro, post-World War II, identity crisis, unreliable narration, generational conflicts, national identity, redemption.

About Kazuo Ishiguro:  

 Background  : Kazuo Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan, on November 8, 1954.

 Immigration  : His family immigrated to Great Britain in 1960.

 Education  : He attended the universities of Kent and East Anglia, earning a B.A. in 1978 and an M.A. in 1980, respectively.

 Literary Beginnings  : Ishiguro gained recognition with his contributions to the anthology  Introduction 7: Stories by New Writers  in 1981.

Major Works  :

A Pale View of Hills  (1982): Explores postwar memories of a Japanese woman dealing with her daughter's suicide.

An Artist of the Floating World  (1986): Chronicles the life of Masuji Ono, a former political artist in post  WWII Japan.

The Remains of the Day  (1989): A Booker Prize  winning novel narrated by Stevens, an English butler.

Career Milestones  : With  The Remains of the Day , Ishiguro became one of Europe's best  known novelists at 35 years old.

Stylistic Departure  :  The Unconsoled  (1995) marked a departure from Ishiguro's earlier works, focusing on lack of communication and emotion.

Later Works  :

 When We Were Orphans  (2000): A crime  fiction novel set during the Sino  Japanese War.

 Never Let Me Go  (2005): Explores ethical questions raised by genetic engineering through the story of human clones.

 The Buried Giant  (2015): An existential fantasy tale influenced by Arthurian legend.

 Klara and the Sun  (2021): Set in the near future, focusing on a droid serving as an "Artificial Friend" to a lonely child.

 Other Contributions  : Wrote screenplays for British television and feature films, including  The Saddest Music in the World  (2003) and  The White Countess  (2005).

 Honors  : Awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1995, knighted in 2019.

 Nobel Prize  : Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2017 for his works uncovering the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world.

About An Artist of Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro:

   Title :   An Artist of the Floating World   by Kazuo Ishiguro (1986)

   Setting : Post  World War II Japan during the American occupation.

  Protagonist: Masuji Ono, a retired artist recalling his past.

  Themes : 

> Guilt, aging, and solitude

> The impact of Japan's postwar reckoning and the American occupation

 > Reflections on art, family, life, and posterity

Narrative Style:  

 > Unreliable narration, with Ono recalling his past from a subjective viewpoint.

  

Plot :

  

> Ono's reflections on his past as a respected artist and his involvement with pro  government activities.The challenges he faces in peacetime, including the marriage negotiations of his daughter.

Character Development: 

>Ono's gradual realization and acceptance of his past actions and their consequences.

Critical Reception: 

Praised for its haunting beauty, delicacy of prose, and exploration of complex themes. (McCrum and Hosseini)

Nation:

Ono was once a celebrated artist whose patriotic propaganda artwork helped promote Japan's militarism and imperial expansion before and during World War II. However, after Japan's defeat, Ono is forced to confront the consequences of his art being used to serve a nationalist cause that ultimately led the nation down a disastrous path. The novel depicts Japan's struggle to recover and redefine its identity in the aftermath of the war, moving away from the militant nationalism it had previously embraced. Ono represents the older generation that remained nostalgic for the pre-war years when their patriotic ideals seemed honorable, but must now grapple with feelings of shame, regret and cognitive dissonance after those ideals were thoroughly discredited by Japan's actions and losses during the war.

Identity: 

As an artist, Ono's personal identity was profoundly shaped by his professional role as a creator of nationalistic propaganda art that glorified Japanese imperial ambitions. With Japan's defeat invalidating the principles his artwork promoted, Ono experiences an identity crisis and psychological trauma. He engages in acts of selective memory, self-deception and revisionism as coping mechanisms to preserve a sense of dignity and excuse his past zealous patriotism that now appears misguided. Ono's struggles represent the challenges faced by individuals to reconstruct their sense of self and purpose when the greater societal values and nationalist ideologies that guided their actions have collapsed. His relationships with his progressive daughters and westernized grandson highlight generational divides over how Japanese identity should be perceived and redefined in the post-war era.

So we can say that, through Ono's turbulent personal journey, the novel serves as an exploration of the national crisis of identity Japan faced after its defeat, as the nation was forced to reckon with the consequences of its past militant nationalism. It also delves into the individual existential questions of how one redefines their sense of self, values and purpose when the founding cultural and nationalist narratives that shaped their worldview have been dismantled. (Varde)

The Shifting National Identity    

Japan's defeat in World War II ushered in a tumultuous period where the nation was forced to rapidly transform its identity from an imperial military power to a demilitarized democracy under American occupation. Traditional values and ideologies that had fueled ultranationalism and militarism were suddenly displaced by imposed liberal democratic principles. This created great upheaval, as Japanese society grappled with redefining itself after the loss of sovereignty and the crumbling of its former nationalist ethos. Ono's narration captures the tensions of this unique moment, where old and new value systems collided, reflecting the faltering but still residual grip of pre-war ideals amidst the transition to a more Westernized global outlook.

Generational Conflicts of Identity    

The radical shift in Japan's national identity bred an intense generational divide. Ono represents the older cohort still psychologically bound to the fading imperialist mindset, while his daughters Setsuko and Noriko embody the younger generation embracing reformist values and American cultural influences like Hollywood heroes. This rift symbolizes how national identity manifests differentially across generations during times of drastic transition. Ono struggles to relate to his grandson's fascination with Western pop culture icons, highlighting the growing cultural disconnect. The generational gap underscores how quickly national identity can bifurcate when an established order is upended.

The Burdens of Individual Culpability    

As a former propagandist artist who produced nationalistic art to bolster the imperialist war effort, Ono personifies the conflicts of individual accountability amidst changing tides of ideology. His unreliable narration reveals how memory can be manipulated through self-deception, as he grapples with burying the shame of his complicity in now-discredited actions. Ono's artistic identity, once a source of pride, becomes dissonant and burdensome. The novel intimately depicts one man's fraught renegotiation of identity when past national allegiances become morally compromised. Ono's personal journey dramatizes the human struggles of redefining one's values and absolving guilt during turbulent socio-political shifts.

 Nostalgia and the Flux of Identities    

While deeply nostalgic for Japan's past cultural traditions, Ono comes to recognize the inevitability of change and flux in national and individual identities. His wistful musings on the former "floating world" pleasure districts give way to an openness towards the younger generation's "optimism and enthusiasm" - a symbolic passing of old to new. The novel's poignant ending, with Ono observing a new city center emerging, suggests identities are impermanent constructs in perpetual states of redefinition across nations and people. As societies transform, individuals must adapt their self-conceptions, however reluctantly. Identities are revealed as constantly "floating" cultural narratives remade by the shifting tides of history. (Tellini)

Unreliable Narrator/Selective Memory:    

Ono is an unreliable narrator who selectively avoids or misrepresents certain memories. This narrative technique reflects his struggle to reconcile his past actions and role in promoting militarism with his current self-identity after the war. By obscuring unpleasant truths and glorifying his past achievements, Ono attempts to maintain a virtuous self-image despite the moral transgressions of his propagandist art during the war. His faulty recollections reveal the cracks in his identity as he grapples with guilt, regret, and the desire for self-justification.

 Post-War Japan:    

The novel presents an imaginary, quasi-fictional depiction of post-war Japan rather than adhering strictly to historical realism. Key Japanese symbols, place names, and cultural artifacts are used to evoke a sense of "Japaneseness" that resonates with collective memory. However, the vagueness of the geographical descriptions suggests Ishiguro is more interested in exploring universal themes of identity crisis through this fictional landscape. Post-war Japan becomes a symbolic setting for confronting the upheaval and reversal of old certainties after a traumatic national defeat.

American Cultural Influence:    

The rising influence of American culture, represented by Ichiro's admiration for cowboy heroes over samurai ideals, symbolizes the subversion and erosion of traditional Japanese identity by dominant Western values in the post-war era. Ono is dismayed by this shift, which reflects the generational divide and Japan's reduced global status. The pervasiveness of the American Dream challenges long-held nationalist narratives about Japanese exceptionalism. Kazuo Ishiguro, affected by the hippie movement's individualism in his youth, may also be reflecting the impact of American counterculture on notions of universality and personal identity. ( He) 

Characterization of Masuji Ono:

  Masuji Ono, the narrator, was once a renowned artist who championed Japanese imperialism through his artwork. However, post-WWII, he grapples with his past beliefs in the face of Japan's defeat and subsequent democratization under U.S. occupation. His narration serves as a quest for personal redemption amidst shifting ideological landscapes, yet it is marked by self-deception and evasion regarding his past actions.

Selective Memory and Identity Construction:

 

   The novel delves into how nations and individuals shape their identities through selective remembrance and forgetting. Ono engages in this process, downplaying his previous fervent nationalism. His justifications expose the manipulation of historical truths to fit national narratives, highlighting the fictional nature of identity built on deliberate forgetfulness.

Complication of Japan's Transition:

   Ishiguro complicates the narrative of Japan's transition to democracy by suggesting its continued entanglement with American imperialism during the Korean War. This challenges any simplistic redemption arc, raising doubts about Japan's true departure from its imperial past versus its absorption into a new imperial system.

Resistance to Closure:

 The novel refrains from offering easy consolation or closure regarding Japan's past. Instead, it exposes the silences and omissions inherent in historical narratives, emphasizing the reliance on necessary fictions to maintain national identity, which often conceal ongoing injustices and violence.

Unstable Identity and Ongoing Negotiation:

 Ultimately, the novel portrays individual and national identity as fluid and constantly revised constructs. There is no fixed authenticity or national redemption; rather, it's an ongoing process of reconciling the present with the burdensome past. One may disavow complicity in historical injustices, but complete transcendence remains elusive.  (WRIGHT)

Conclusion:

In nutshell, we can say that the novel shows how personal and national identity is, instead, mutable and always in a reinventing state. History cannot establish an "authenticity" or "national atonement." Instead, a process of reconciliation in which the current world is facing the heavy baggage of the past is taking place. However, being detached from the past is an impossible wish, and there is always some attachments to the glorious past. The "drifting" background of Masuji Ono's story and postwar Japan in Kazuo Ishiguro's "An Artist of the Floating World" shows us the hidden problems behind remaking of identities after a very dramatic societal shift. The work not only seems not to support the closing narrative which may lead to redemption but the indispensable elements which contribute to the development of a personal or collective identity. Ishiguro hones in on this intricate and exquisite truth, and his compassionate work seems to suggest that identity—whether individual or collective—rests on nothing concrete, it is a shifting structure that only the history and memory can determine its foundations.

References: 

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Kazuo Ishiguro". Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Apr. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kazuo  Ishiguro. Accessed 26 April 2024.

He, Jingxi. “A Long Anxiety Dream: The Absence and Subversion of Identity in Kazuo Ishiguro's an Artist of the Floating World.” Darcy & Roy Press, Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2023, https://drpress.org/ojs/index.php/EHSS/article/view/8214/7989. Accessed 26 April 2024.

McCrum, Robert, and Khaled Hosseini. “The 100 best novels: No 94 – An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro (1986).” The Guardian, 6 July 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/06/100-best-novels-no-94-an-artist-of-the-floating-world-kazuo-ishiguro-mazuji-ono-noriko. Accessed 26 April 2024.

Varde, Hirenkumar Balavatbhai. “AN ARTIST OF THE FLOATING WORLD (1986 | Allresearch Journal.” Academia.edu, cholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, 2018, https://www.academia.edu/91403678/AN_ARTIST_OF_THE_FLOATING_WORLD_1986. Accessed 26 April 2024.

WRIGHT, TIMOTHY. “No Homelike Place: The Lesson of History in Kazuo Ishiguro’s ‘An Artist of the Floating World.’” Contemporary Literature, vol. 55, no. 1, 2014, pp. 58–88. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43297947. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Word Count: 2309

Images: 3