Memoirs of Geisha - An Analysis

Memoirs of a Geisha: A Summary

A beautiful blue-eyed girl, Chiyo, was sold in a Geisha house at the age of nine. There, she experienced cruelty from Mother and abusiveness from Hatsumomo.
Her pains and anguish suddenly turned into sweet pleasure and happiness upon the arrival of the Chairman. Secretly hoping to receive his tender caress, Chiyo dreamt and strived to become a geisha. So, she whole-heartedly accepted Mameha’s offering for her to become a geisha.
All the schoolings and trainings went successfully as Chiyo transformed into Sayuri, the most celebrated geisha in their town. It is because of her performance in her much-anticipated debut that drew the interest of every man in town closer to her.
Her greatest rival, Hatsumomo, learned about her feelings to the chairman and tried to burn down her house. Even Pumpkin, her childhood friend, was very jealous to Sayuri’s diva-world.
Mother adopted Sayuri because of her success. Sayuri’s glory was cut short when the World War II approached. She and Mameha hid through Chairman’s help to prevent them from becoming American slaves.
Years later, she returned to her town and discovered a modernized world of prostitutes, not Geishas. She, together with Mameha and Pumpkin were hired by the Chairman to entertain some American generals to make them his business partners.
Unfortunately, she was tempted to sell her body and soul to a general, and this was witnessed by the Chairman himself. With tears and regrets, Sayuri threw away the chairman’s handkerchief and gave up her hopes and dreams on being together with him.
Their fate reunited once again, but this time with chairman’s revelation that he planned for Mameha’s arrival so Sayuri could pursue her dream of becoming a geisha.
The film ended with Sayuri’s heart-warming quotation for him, “Can’t you see? Every step I have taken since I was that child on that bridge, I speak to bring myself closer to you?” And their love lingered until the end.…..

Memoirs of a Geisha: An Analysis

A. Emotional Value

When a piece of literature is said to give pleasure, to be interesting, exciting, moving, stirring, or rousing, or when it is attributed a strong emotional impact, then it contains emotional value, and the film has it.
The group members felt the same emotions felt by the characters such the pains and sufferings endured by Sayuri before and after becoming a geisha, and the jealousy and bitterness the other geishas felt for her.
As a film viewer, you’ll find the film disturbing at first yet touching at the end because of the hindrances and obstacles Sayuri and the Chairman encountered for their love to each other.

B. Cultural Value

Early Japanese customs and traditions like wishing in a well, selling children in okiyo (geisha house), sumo wrestling, teahouse celebration, and presentation of mizuage are shown in the film.The culture of Japan before and after the arrival of the Americans are presented, too. (e.g. Geisha – prostitutes, Calesa transpo – airplanes/cars, teahouses – bars/clubs)
Also, the background of a geisha is presented.

Memoirs of a Geisha: An Analysis

A. Feminism

The film focused on who and what women are in the early society, specifically geishas.
It is said that geishas are not to provide any sexual desires of men, but only to entertain with art. They are to entice the most influential and powerful men only through singing, dancing, playing instruments and conversing.
The film also revealed the strengths of women repressed under patriarchy.
A sample scene of oppression to women’s rights is the auction for Sayuri’s virginity.

B. Historicism

Historical, because the film revolved around 1600 wherein Geishas really existed. It featured the identity of the geishas in the eyes of the powerful men.
Many locations, such as Gion and the Ichiriki Ochaya were actual places frequented by Geishas and their patrons.
The occurrence of the World War II, wherein Geishas and other Japanese are sent to become slaves, is part of the real Japanese history.

C. Humanism

Humanism is concerned with human capacities, and so as the film which showed talents and capabilities of geishas.
The approach is about human values and worth. Sample scenes are the following, Pumpkin’s aspiration of becoming the adopted daughter of Osaka, Chiyo’s dearly love and devotion to her family and Hatsumomo’s strive to overpower every geisha in town.
The film is also centered with human interests. Men are fond of the entertainment the geishas are offering, while most women desire to be a geisha so they could achieve political wealth and prominence.
Most of the characters showed self-determination and perseverance all through out the film.