Seventeen Syllables

December 2, 2009 at 6:37 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

       I liked reading “Seventeen Syllables” by author, Hisaye Yamamoto.  I thought the story was very interesting and certainly kept me engaged from beginning to end.  The tale is about a young girl, Rosie, who acts as our narrator, and her family in the years following World War II.  Rosie’s parents are both of Japanese decent but live in the United States therefore are classified as Japanese Americans.  Rosie, being born in the United States, is Americanized and does not truly appreciate her parent’s Japanese heritage.  Throughout the story there are several themes the Yamamoto makes clear to readers.

       The first theme is about Rosie’s mother and her loveless marriage. Rosie’s mom fell in love with a man in Japan and was pregnant with his child.  She lost the baby and her family never looked at her the same again.  She begged Aunt Taka, her favorite sister in America to send for her, threatening suicide if she were to stay in Japan.  Her Aunt set her up with who would be Rosie’s father, who turns out to be a mean and violent man to Rosie’s mother.  Readers learn that Rosie’s mother takes up writing Haiku’s, or seventeen syllable poems.  She obsesses over these poems during her free time.  I think her creative writing is the only thing that takes her away from her silent acceptance of her poor marriage and unhappiness.  Rosie’s mother even develops a pen name when she publishes her Haiku’s.  She also wins first prize in a Haiku contest in a local newspaper.  When the man from the paper delivers her reward, Rosie’s father destroys it and demands his wife and daughter get back to work picking tomatoes in the family farm.

       During the story Rosie begins to develop feelings for a boy she has known for quite some time as well.  The two share a short romantic moment.  Ironically, at the close of “Seventeen Syllables” Rosie’s mother in a fit of urgency asks Rosie to promise she will never marry.  Her mother asked Rosie this question only moments after she shares her unfortunate story about coming to America and marrying a man she doesn’t love.  Rosie immediately thinks of Jesus, the young boy she likes but nevertheless promises her mother she won’t marry.

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