Diseases in Samurai's Garden

1376 Words6 Pages
Diseases in Samurai’s Garden Samurai’s garden is a novel that revolves around diseases that can make or break a bond entirely. Each character decides on their own actions. They have their chance at once to choose to either overcome life’s tragedies to learn from such experiences or to sink in its depression and commit suicide. In the end, it took a great deal of strength to choose from one of these life-changing choices. Matsu’s younger sister, Tomoko, had one of the most beautiful faces seen in Tarumi. Unfortunately, she was one of the first to become infected with the Leprosy disease. It was believed that if one has a disease, that person brings shame to their family. The honor of their family isn’t restored until the diseased one commits suicide. Tomoko’s best friend, Sachi, mentioned that” I often recall my father saying how the Samurai maintained their honor by committing seppuku” (131). It was more respected to end your life rather than to live with the leprosy that dishonored your family. In Tomoko’s last days she adopted the choice of committing suicide as the flesh-eating disease started to spread to her face. She tells Matsu,” I don’t want to live like this” (155). Tomoko grew depressed, shamed, and more determined to end her life as each day passed with the disease. She finally says, “I won’t live like this” (156). She feels as though the disease is a horrible thing that she cannot live with. Sadly, three days later Matsu says, “Tomoko had committed seppuku” (79). She couldn’t live knowing that she was soon to be dominated by this disease and there was nothing else she could do to stop it but her own death. Tomoko rather die than to be diseased. Throughout the story, Matsu dealt with a few losses of friends and family. Matsu carried a strong composure as you would never see his weakness on the outside. After Matsu’s friend, Hiro, passed away,
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