“Seventeen Syllables” by Hisaye Yamamoto remains a timeless work that delves into the complexities of human relationships and societal structures. Through its exploration of women’s struggles, generational clashes, and family violence, the story provokes thought and introspection, prompting readers to consider the relevance of these themes in both historical and modern contexts. Yamamoto’s poignant storytelling leaves a lasting impact, urging society to confront these critical issues and strive for greater equality, understanding, and empathy.
Seventeen Syllables | Summary
The story centers around Rosie Hayashi, a young Japanese-American woman living in a California farming community with her parents. Her mother, Tome, has recently taken up writing haiku, which has become a consuming passion for her. However, Rosie struggles to comprehend the deeper meaning behind her mother’s haiku due to the language barrier and their limited ability to communicate effectively.
As the story unfolds, we get glimpses of Rosie’s daily life, the interactions with her parents, and her growing friendship with Jesus Carrasco, a Mexican-American boy hired to help with the tomato harvest. During a visit to their friends, the Hayanos, tensions arise as Rosie’s father appears impatient and eager to leave presumably due to his wife’s preoccupation and passionate conversations on haikus. Rosie’s resentment towards her parents intensifies, leading to a moment of despair and anger when she momentarily wishes for their car to crash.
The narrative then shifts to Rosie’s encounter with Jesus in the packing shed. Their friendship takes a different turn as Jesus kisses her, leaving Rosie feeling confused and conflicted. Meanwhile, Tome’s passion for haiku comes to the fore during a visit from the haiku editor, Mr. Kuroda, who presents her with an award. However, the celebration turns into turmoil when Rosie’s father destroys the precious prize, revealing a deeply troubled side of his personality.
In the poignant climax, Rosie rushes to her mother’s side as the fire consumes the treasured picture by Hiroshige. Outwardly composed, Mrs. Hayashi opens up to Rosie, revealing a painful and secret chapter from her past. At the tender age of 18, she had a clandestine romance with the eldest son of a wealthy family. However, social norms dictated that a girl from an unfavorable background like Tome was not a suitable match for him. Tragedy struck when she became pregnant, and her child was born stillborn.
Desperate and feeling rejected, she reached out to her sister Taka in America, pleading for help and threatening suicide if her plea went unanswered. She arranged a match for her to settle down in America. With tears in her eyes, Mrs. Hayashi implores Rosie to promise never to marry, driven by her own traumatic experiences and the fear of Rosie facing a similar fate. Rosie’s mind races, thinking of Jesus and their intimate moment together, conflicted between her own desires and her mother’s heartfelt plea. In an attempt to pacify her mother, Rosie reluctantly agrees with an insincere “Yes, yes, I promise,” but her mother sees through her façade, calling her a fool.
Seventeen Syllables | Analysis
At its core, the story revolves around Rosie’s coming of age, but it is artfully counterpointed by the undercurrent of Mrs. Hayashi’s haiku and her backstory, which serves as a striking contrast to Rosie’s seemingly carefree childhood. The shift in narrative focus from Rosie to Mrs. Hayashi highlights the vastly different struggles faced by these two characters. Mrs. Hayashi’s haunting account of her traumatic teenage years and her confined life as a housewife illuminates the relative freedom enjoyed by her American-born daughter, Rosie. The tragic loss of her first child marks the end of Mrs. Hayashi’s innocence and youth, much like Rosie’s awakening to adulthood in the shadow of her father’s violent tendencies.
The comparison of the haiku’s conciseness with Mrs. Hayashi’s constrained life becomes a powerful metaphor, emphasizing the restrictive nature of her existence. Much like the brevity of a haiku, she can only communicate within certain confined boundaries, expressing herself in subtle ways due to societal norms and expectations. The story underscores the significance of silence, highlighting that what is left unsaid can often carry as much weight as spoken words. The number 17 holds symbolic weight in the narrative, not only representing the syllable count of a haiku but also signifying the years since Mrs. Hayashi lost her first child. This tragic event marks a pivotal moment in her life, shaping her coming of age in a painful way, just as Rosie faces her own awakening in the face of her father’s violence.
Rosie’s awakening to the power dynamics within her immigrant conjugal family becomes a central theme. Her father assumes the role of the patriarch, wielding his authority to maintain strict control over his wife, daughter, and even the Mexican hired hands laboring in the tomato fields. He prioritizes profit-making, frowning upon any activities that do not directly contribute to the farm’s financial success.
The playful and giddy nature of the young girls, including Rosie, Haru, and Natsu, is juxtaposed with the subdued and silent demeanor of the older women, particularly Mrs. Hayashi and Mrs. Hayano. The author uses this contrast to highlight the societal expectations placed upon women in their roles as wives and mothers, where silence and decorum are considered virtues. During the visit to the Hayanos, the girls’ lively play and excitement over Haru’s new coat serve as a stark contrast to the quiet and unobtrusive presence of the older women.
The conflict between Mrs. Hayashi and her husband, particularly in the scene with Mr. Kuroda, serves as a primary conflict in the story. The atmosphere is charged with tension, heightened by the scorching heat of the day and the threat of tomato spoilage. This tension mirrors the unspoken emotions simmering beneath the surface, much like the subtly nuanced conversations in Japanese culture. Mrs. Hayashi’s impeccable speech, laced with indirectness and femininity, showcases her mastery of cultural decorum. However, her request to open the package in Mr. Kuroda’s presence, despite being taboo, indicates her desire to assert herself in a society that values silent compliance. Her passion for haiku becomes a means of self-expression, compensating for the limitations in her communication with her husband and daughter. Haiku offers her a way to bridge the gap between her present life and her past in Japan, providing intellectual stimulation and a sense of independence, a subtle rebellion against her social class.
The narrative builds to a climactic moment when Mr. Hayashi’s destructive outburst shatters the silence, destroying the precious picture by Hiroshige. Although the actual scene between Mr. Hayashi and Mr. Kuroda remains undisclosed, the emotional impact is palpable, and the aftermath of the scene is left to the imagination, reflecting the subtlety and restraint of Japanese communication. Through the story’s quiet desperation, Mrs. Hayashi’s unspoken torment becomes evident as she watches her cherished artwork burn. Her insistence that Rosie never marry echoes the weight of her own painful experiences, revealing the depth of her emotions and the cultural barriers that hinder open communication between mother and daughter.
Seventeen Syllables | Themes
The story explores several profound and timely themes that resonate with readers across cultures and generations. One of the central themes is the arduous struggles faced by women within family and marriage dynamics. Yamamoto masterfully captures the challenges women encountered during this historical period, particularly within the context of arranged marriages. Tome, the protagonist’s mother, is a poignant example of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage, forced into an arranged union that is an alternative to contemplating suicide. Through her character, the story highlights the harsh realities and emotional turmoil endured by women in traditional Japanese families during the 19th century.
Another dominant theme in the story is the clash between generations, particularly the conflict between the older Japanese native population and the younger generation, immersed in American culture. This generational gap is exemplified through Rosie, who has been socialized into the American way of life, leading to a limited understanding of her mother’s Japanese heritage and interests. The tension between the two generations underscores the challenges of preserving cultural identity and heritage in an ever-changing society. The narrative reflects a broader societal trend where younger generations often forsake their ethnic roots in favor of adopting the dominant American culture.
Family violence and the dominance of males in society emerge as yet another significant theme in the story. The act of Rosie’s husband burning her cherished Hiroshige print represents an act of family violence and highlights the patriarchal nature of society. Mrs. Hayashi’s powerlessness to protect her gift serves as a stark portrayal of the lack of agency that women often experienced in such patriarchal family structures. The writer expertly portrays the impact of patriarchal attitudes in traditional Japanese culture, evident in Mrs. Hayashi’s experiences and expectations as a married woman. She must hide her relationship with a wealthy boy in her village, facing ostracism while he faces no repercussions. As a married woman, she is expected to conform to societal norms, submitting to her husband’s authority both in the home and on the farm. Rosie, on the other hand, resents these patriarchal norms and rebels against them, harboring anger towards her father’s mistreatment of her mother and her mother’s compliance.
Seventeen Syllables | Title
The title refers to the structure of haiku, a traditional Japanese poetic form consisting of three lines with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5. This choice of title alludes to the central role that haiku plays within the story, as Tome, Rosie’s mother, immerses herself in the art of writing these concise poems.
Seventeen Syllables | Character Sketch
Rosie is a young Japanese American girl on the cusp of adulthood, and she serves as the focal point of the story’s coming-of-age theme. Despite attending Japanese school, Rosie struggles to fully comprehend her mother’s haiku and feels a sense of disconnect with her Japanese heritage. Her life appears carefree on the surface, engaging in playful interactions with her friends and displaying exuberance, yet beneath the facade lies an internal conflict concerning her family dynamics. Rosie’s character embodies the struggle of identity, assimilation, and generational clash, making her a relatable and poignant protagonist.
Tome, also known as Ume Hanazono in her haiku writing, is Rosie’s mother and a central figure in the story. A Japanese immigrant in the United States, Tome epitomizes the immigrant experience, juggling between preserving her cultural roots and embracing her new life in America. She endures a loveless marriage after being forced into an arranged union due to a traumatic past involving a stillborn child and an ill-fated romance. Her passion for haiku represents her yearning for intellectual stimulation and a connection to her Japanese heritage, providing her with a sense of independence.
As the patriarch of the Hayashi family, Mr. Hayashi represents the traditional gender norms and authority that govern the household. He exudes a stern and dominating presence, enforcing strict control over his wife and daughter. His primary concern lies in the profitability of his tomato farm, leading him to prioritize work above all else and discourage any activities that do not directly contribute to the farm’s success.
Seventeen Syllables | Literary Devices
Symbolism is prevalent throughout the story, particularly with the haiku, which symbolizes her suppressed emotions, desires, and cultural ties. It serves as an outlet for her to express her thoughts and feelings, providing insight into her inner world.
The haiku and its form itself can be seen as a metaphor for Mrs. Hayashi’s constrained life and communication. Just like the haiku’s limited structure, she can only communicate within certain restricted ways due to the societal norms and gender expectations of her time.
The story contains situational irony, particularly in the scene where Mrs. Hayashi assumes a lover’s proposal stance when she asks Rosie not to marry. Foreshadowing is employed through the aggressive behavior of Rosie’s father.
The author uses vivid imagery to create a sense of atmosphere and emotion in the story. The descriptions of the tomato fields and the burning of the Hiroshige print add to the emotional impact.
The use of double negatives in Rosie’s internal thoughts and dialogue emphasizes her ambivalence and internal conflict regarding her parents’ relationship and her own emotions. This device adds nuance to her character and illuminates the tensions within the family.
The story weaves a multi-layered narrative, skillfully juxtaposing dual plots and exploring themes of family, cultural identity, gender roles, and the art of communication through haiku.
