A Typewriter in a World of Gillnets

In Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, there are multiple different protagonists.  The novel focuses on the 1954 murder trial on the island of San Piedro, which is just off the coast of Washington.  Many characters are featured, including multiple witnesses, the deceased, Carl Heine, and the accused, Kabuo Miyamoto, but I chose to concentrate on the local reporter, Ishmael Chambers, as my protagonist.  Ishmael is 31 years old, and fought in World War II, giving him the hardened expression of a veteran.  He also had one of his arms amputated ten inches below the shoulder joint, which causes other people to fear him or try to offer sympathy, which only irritates him more.  Ishmael is a very cynical man, due to the fact that he’s a veteran, runs the local newspaper, the San Piedro Review, and is growing older.  Also, because he runs the newspaper and communicates through words, he is considered to be very different from the rest of the San Piedro men, who are all silent, independent fishermen.  Through what I have read so far from the novel, it is apparent that Ishmael’s two main conflicts are with Kabuo and his wife, Hatsue.  To start, as a reporter, it is Chambers’ job to find the truth behind the death of Carl Heine, which also means betraying Kabuo if he is found guilty.  Both of these men were close friends of Ishmael, so he is motivated to search for justice in order to help them.  Ishmael is also motivated to help defend Kabuo throughout the story.  Since most of the remainder of the island’s population consists of fishermen or war veterans, Kabuo is very hated, especially because he is of Japanese descent, which therefore pressures many people to believe he is guilty.  For example, when Ishmael goes to the dock to try to uncover the story, the fishermen are arguing over the names of the Miyamoto sons.  Ishmael, in hopes of justifying the Miyamoto name, clears up the argument, which results in the fishermen uttering phrases such as “Suckers all look alike.  Never could tell them apart” and “Japs” (p. 43).  Ishmael also has a major conflict with Hatsue Miyamoto, who happens to be Kabuo’s wife.  At the beginning of the novel, outside the courtroom during one of the recesses, Ishmael comes across Hatsue and tries to start a conversation.  Instead of responding, Hatsue just turns away and acts distant.  Despite Hatsue’s actions, Ishmael still tries to comfort her, showing that he has very strong feelings for her.  He also states that her eyes’ “darkness would beleaguer his memory of these days” showing that her emotions have a very powerful impact on him (p. 8).  Additionally, Ishmael was told by his mother that he is very similar to his father, Arthur.  His father’s marriage to his mother was frowned upon, so this may foreshadow that Ishmael’s future marriage will be frowned upon as well.  Therefore, if Ishmael’s feelings for Hatsue are indeed valid, their relationship may lead to a marriage, which would be very disgraceful since she is the wife of his friend. 

I believe that Ishmael is a very relatable character, since most people have encountered situations similar to the ones he is experiencing.  For example, Ishmael’s feelings for Hatsue can be compared to any controversial relationship, such as Romeo and Juliet, or even Prince Charles of Wales and Camilla Parker-Bowles.  All feature someone having disapproved romantic feelings for another, and often end in a very frowned upon relationship.  Ishmael is also seen as an outsider in a town that he grew up in.  The fact that he is placed with reporters from other cities in the courtroom, and also how he doesn’t fit in with the rest of the men on the island, shows that he is different.  Almost everyone has felt misplaced at one point in their lives, so his feelings in these situations are very plausible.  There is also peer pressure featured in this novel, which strongly relates to modern teenage life.  Ishmael is caught between the fishermen and Kabuo, since the fishermen believe Kabuo is guilty.  There are so many cases nowadays where people are forced to choose between what other people want them to do, and what is right, so the audience can easily compare themselves to Ishmael throughout the story.  Overall, Ishmael Chambers is a very complex, appealing character, and I look forward to seeing how his conflicts are resolved.