Bringing to the big screen the world of Japan’s much celebrated Geisha, “Memoirs of a Geisha” has also revealed how the unwitting acts of outsiders almost brought to ruins one of the most distinct aspects of an entire culture. The movie follows the footstep of Chiyo – a country girl sold into a Geisha house (Okiya) at a young age – and depicts her journey from a mere servant to one of the most renowned women in all of Tokyo. The story continued as she fled into exile at the beginning of the war, and returned to find her world devastated in the wake of the American occupation. It is at this point of the narration that the clash between cultures becomes most apparent. First and foremost, one could argue the problems stemmed from the US’s partially willful ignorance.
Soon thereafter she feels like she will never truly be accepted Rebecca's devoted housekeeper, the sinister Mrs. Danvers, is still in charge of Manderley, and she frightens and intimidates her new mistress. Mrs. de Winter struggles in her new life at Manderley. She feels like she could never compare to Rebecca, who was beautiful, talented and brilliant. Soon she feels that Maxim is still in love with his dead wife. Mrs. Danvers’s suggests to Mrs. de Winter that she wear a costume to their annual costume ball.
Hitchcock understood this desire and re-defined how America watched movies. (Thomson, 2009 p. 14) From the illicit opening scene in the seedy hotel room between Marian Crane and Sam Loomis, there is already a sense of disorder. After Marian crosses the line from illicit to illegal by stealing $40,000 from her employer and fleeing Arizona by driving to Sam, she is assailed by guilt and paranoia. Marian’s theft is a crime of opportunity born of desperation. The $40,000 was conveniently left in her care to be banked, her sister is away from home for the weekend, she is already upset, and disturbed that her lover’s dismal financial state has kept him from being able to openly declare their relationship.
Chiyo, a young Japanese girl, whose family, unable to support her, sells her to a geisha house in Kyoto in the 1930s. A geisha is a professional female companion for men in Japan, trained in music, dancing, and the art of conversation. The geisha training is a life of virtual slavery, and Chiyo finds herself working as maid to a malevolent geisha called Hatsumomo who, jealous of Chiyo’s beauty, makes her life utterly miserable. One day, as Chiyo weeps by a stream in the city, a wealthy man stops and comforts her. Chiyo, deeply moved by the man’s kindness, knows that she will never forget him.
Karanah discovers that her baby brother was left behind and swims back to the island only for her brother to die a couple of days later. Now Karanah is all alone on the island. Sam has both of his parents, his grandpa and some siblings at home waiting for him to return, which he is not intending to do. Karanah is an orphan with no living siblings. Her mom died when Karanah was around the age of five, her dad, brother and sister all died when she
Chiyo starts to realize that her life will not change following a fairy tale story, instead it will develop many changes from her childhood to the moment of being sold into slavery and training as geisha apprentice revealing change occurring throughout her life stages. As Chiyo’s mother was getting weak and sick, Chiyo had met Mr. Tanaka whom gave her a helping hand in her time of need; unfortunately, he had deceived her, and rather than taking her in for adoption, he had instead taken her away from her family to Gion, Japan where she was sold to an okiya as a soon-to-be geisha. Sadly, Chiyo’s sister, Satsu wasn’t so fortunate; Satsu was instead taken to a brothel where she would be a prostitute. When Chiyo had first arrived at the okiya, she had met a highly renowned geisha named Hatsumomo. She is easily compared to the element of ‘fire’ as a young woman having a fiery temper with anyone she despises or happens to get in her way of being a popular geisha.
Her husband is again forced to go steal some of the plant from the garden next door in order to satisfy his wife. This time the man is caught by a wicked witch of a woman that owns the garden. She knows he had stolen her plants and she agrees to let him take more for his wife, but as punishment she tells him that once his child is born it is to be turned over to her. After the baby is born she is turned over to the evil woman. She locks the child, Rapunzel, away in a tower on her twelfth birthday once she begins maturing.
Teacher’s notes LEVEL 6 PENGUIN READERS Teacher Support Programme Memoirs of a Geisha Arthur Golden becomes a successful geisha, renowned for her beauty. Then one day she meets the man who had comforted her by the stream. But life does not run smoothly for Sayuri and there are powerful obstacles that prevent the two from coming together. Chapter 1: Born in Yoroido, a small fishing village, young Chiyo leaves her home when her mother falls ill. She becomes a maid to beautiful Hatsumomo in an okiya in Gion, a famous geisha area in Kyoto. Chapter 2: Chiyo meets Pumpkin, another young girl.
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Chapter 1: Born in Yoroido, a small fishing village, young Chiyo leaves her home when her mother falls ill. She becomes a maid to beautiful Hatsumomo in an okiya in Gion, a famous geisha area in Kyoto. Chapter 2: Chiyo meets Pumpkin, another young girl. They have to please cruel Hatsumomo, who makes her life miserable at the okiya. Chapter 3: Feeling useless, unhappy Chiyo cries by a stream. A gentleman speaks kind words to her, offers her a handkerchief, and admires her beautiful grey eyes.
Mathilde is jealous of her and she will do anything in her power to reverse the mistake of destiny that made her poor. One night, her husband arrived at their house with an invitation to a formal party. Mathilde was so angry and cried heavily. She told her husband to just give the invitation to another woman who can afford to buy expensive clothes. With this act, Mathilde clearly emphasized disappointment of having that kind of social status.