Groups one and two will post their presentations on the Discussion Board. Afterwards, the rest of the class will respond to the presentations either by asking questions, disagreeing, or offering additional insights. For a regular participation grade, you must all post responses to each other concerning the presentations. If you do not interact with your classmates, you will not receive these points.
GROUPS 1-2 MUST POST
QUESTIONS FOR GROUP 2: “A Fifty-Year-Old Man” (Auvenshine, Florido, Armstrong, Clark)
1.What is Chiba’s motivation for taking dancing lessons? What does it reveal about his life’s condition?
2.How did the circumstances of his mother’s divorce and death impact Chiba?
3.Why are dogs important to Chiba? What does Whitey represent to him?
4.What is the significance of Chiba’s wife’s observation that Whitey “died in place of [Chiba’s] brother” (28)?
5.What does Endo’s worldview seem to be in light of this work?
1. What is Chiba’s motivation for taking dancing lessons? What does it reveal about his life’s condition? (Auvenshine)
Chiba’s motivation for taking dance lessons is multifaceted on the one hand he has always wanted to learn how to dance, he thought it would be a good idea to get into shape, and it is revealed that he is stubborn. For example, on page 14 Chiba is talking to his wife and says “I wanted to learn how to dance, but I couldn’t because of the war. Just an old man stubbornness?” (50-year-old man, Pg. 14). He is a frail man and he mentioned to his wife that he wanted to learn how to dance to tone up his legs (Fifty-year-old man, pg 14). His life condition has slowly deteriorated because he has begun to get these bad headaches. For example, “A stabbing pain suddenly pierced the back of Chiba’s head”(Fifty-year-old Man, pg 14). His family had a history of strokes and some of them had died at the age of 52.
believe that he is dancing to try to prevent dying of a stroke. He is old and frail but that does not stop him from trying to live a healthy lifestyle which is seen throughout the story. He also experiences embarrassment from being the oldest man in the class so
2. How did the circumstances of his mother’s divorce and death impact Chiba? (Florido)
These events ultimately led to Chiba to struggle with feelings of guilt, building relationships and finding meaning in life. When his mother died, Chiba reflects saying “She had carried her burdens without complaint, but I—her son—have done nothing but fail, time and again. Perhaps that is the legacy she left me”. This quote goes to show that for Chiba, he was not only left disappointed by his actions; or a lack thereof, but it was a legacy that he would carry with him forever.
” The death and divorce of Chibas mother left him with a legacy of burden, regret and the inability to find meaning in his life.
3. Why are dogs important to Chiba? What does Whitey represent to him? (Armstrong)
To him they mean loyalty, companionship, and unconditional love, which contrasts with the complicated and often disappointing relations he experiences with people.
Why are dogs so important to Chiba?
Chiba feels alienated and disillusioned by human relationships. He notes that “people betray you when it’s most inconvenient for you,” highlighting his cynicism and mistrust (p 15). Dogs, however, offer a form of love and devotion that humans fail to provide. Chiba says, “Dogs are uncomplicated. They do not concern themselves with your status or appearance but simply love you for who you are” (p 17). This simplicity in nature comforts him and gives him meaning through his struggles with aging and loneliness.
What does Whitey represent to him?
Whitey, a stray dog, represents resilience and purity within a world Chiba found unforgiving. For sure, he noticed that in itself, Whitey’s tough life on the streets just emulates his feelings, and he says, “Whitey’s never had an easy life, but he keeps going—just like me,” (p 21) through which the dog’s determination may well inspire him to meet and battle his despair. In Whitey, Chiba sees the possibility of redemption and authentic connection. ”
Even in his ragged state,” Chiba muses, “Whitey’s devotion shines brighter than anything
seen in most people” (p 24). This bond encourages Chiba to reevaluate his feelings about humanity and suffering, finding solace in the uncomplicated love of a stray dog. Dogs and Whitey, are very significant in Chiba’s life, as they give him a sense of loyalty and unconditional love that he struggles to find elsewhere.
4. What is the significance of Chiba’s wife’s observation that Whitey “died in place of [Chiba’s] brother” (28)? (Clark)
This was significant for even though Chiba’s wife always fought with him over Whitey and felt he was insignificant, she knew what the dog meant to her husband as well as what his brother meant to him as well. With his wife giving the passing of Whitey meaning, seems to give comfort to Chiba and the idea that Whiteys life did not end for nothing. In Chiba’s mind, the life of Whitey is just as meaningful as the life of his brother and with Whitey giving up his life in order for his brother to live gives him peace and comfort. “When he closed his eyes, he remembered his wife saying that Whitey had died in his brother’s place.
5. What does Endo’s worldview seem to be in light of this work? (Clark)
Endo’s worldview seems to be that of one who does not trust many people with his emotions. After the divorce of his parents he seems to withdraw and notice that his brother does as well, “his brother, he knew, had endured the situation by sitting at his desk and opening his school books” (Endo, pg 25). He seems to hold onto the grief that was caused by the separation of his parents and then the grief that he felt from missing the passing of his mother.
He seems to have this sense of inferiority of himself as he speaks about his brother while he is in the hospital, “he had always thought that his brother, who was superior in all respects, would likewise live much longer than he” (pg 25). There does not seem to be much that makes Chiba happy besides the time that he gets to spend with Whitey as it appears that when he gets stressed his blood pressure rises and he gets nauseating headaches. With the passing of Whitey it would seem as though he can see a glimmer of something good in the world.
Group 1: ADCOCK, DUREN, MCLEAN , RUDESEAL
1. What are Suguro’s motivations in making the trip to Unzen? How do they shape his responses to the day’s events?
Suguro has multiple reasons for making the trip to Unzen. He longs for personal and spiritual understanding in his life. Surguro faces the hard reality of suffering and wants to gain an understanding of God’s faith during hard seasons. Dealing with doubt about his own faith, he wants to visit Unzen, the site of many martyrs. Suguro feels that God was silent when his own people were suffering. He reflects saying, “And God…where was God? He had been silent then, and He is silent now” (Endo 45). In Surguro’s own life he feels that God is silent, and when he goes to find answers, he finds more questions. Many people deal with doubt and confusion of how a good God can cause his own people to die for him. Surguro wrestles with the concept of martyrs and seeks answers to his questions about life.
Seeing the place where many Christians had died for their faith, he is in awe. It also makes him feel saddened because he is not confident that his faith is as strong as the faith that the martyrs had. Being vulnerable he says, “And yet here I am-a priest who teaches others about the glory of martyrdom-feeling nothing but fear at the thought of suffering. Could endure what those martyrs endured?
2. Contrast the present atmosphere of the tour with the experience of the Japanese martyrs?
He is also deeply disturbed. He cannot even grasp the hardship that the martyrs went through. He personally battles with the irreverence of such a sacred place. He feels that, “Once, this was a place where men met God in their final moments. Now it is a place where men take photographs” (Endo 71). He expresses his grief at society’s lack of compassion and respect for the martyrs. The tour casually explains the events, while the tourists do not connect or respect the death that took place there. The book says, “They lowered into the scalding springs, their bodies consumed by the heat, but their voices did not waver. “Deus,” they cried. “Deus.” Even as their bodies failed, their faith endured” (Endo 51). These martyrs weren’t just killed, they were also tortured. They faced many horrifying physical injuries and in the end paid with their lives. They finished their personal race strongly, relying on the Lord to carry them through.
3. What relationship does Suguro see between himself and Kichijiro?
Throughout Endo’s “Unzen”, Suguro, over the course of the story begins to understand his own spiritual and moral struggles. This can be noticed by Suguro’s relationship with Kichijiro. Kichijiro is seen as more of a weak believer, he repeatedly denies his faith in order to simply save himself;
however, he tended to return to God just for forgiveness time after time. “The guards swiftly apprehended him and asked if he was a Christian. At that, the man froze in fear, and jabbering, ‘
But some in the crowd had seen him at the rear of the assemblage, his hands pressed together as he repeated over and over, ‘Forgive me! Forgive me!’” (Endo, 11-12) By recognizing this struggle to fully live up to ideals of faith, Suguro can see these struggles within himself. Even though Suguro was not tested by persecution, he continuously experiences internal battles leading to failures and compromises. This internal battle leads to him questioning his own spiritual authenticity. “He had been baptized as a child, along with the rest of his family. Since then he had passed through his forties without rejecting his religion. But that was not due to firm resolve or unshakable faith.
He was more than adequately aware of his own spiritual slovenliness and pusillanimity.” (Endo, 3). This quote proves that Suguro also grappled with the same guilt and shame. Due to Suguro seeing Kichijiro as an embodiment of the human struggle which tries to balance all things sin and grace, Suguro finds himself empathizing with Kichijiro. This empathizing then leads to him become more empathetic towards his own imperfections. “Suguro could almost see the look on Kichijiro’s face as he stood at the back of the crowd, furtively watching his former companions with the tremulous gaze of a dog, then lowering his eyes in humiliation. That look was like Suguro’s own.” (Endo, 7). Suguro’s view of his and Kichijiro’s relationship shows that faith is not just for the strong believers, but is equally for those who are flawed and weaker.
4. In your estimation, what is the message of “ Unzen” concerning apostasy? Be sure to provide specifics.
Apostasy is known as an abandonment of faith. Throughout “Unzen”, Endo does not directly condemn the act of apostasy. Instead he portrays it as a fear based response due to suffering. “One by one each of the seven was taken to the brink of the seething pond. There they were shown the frothy spray from the boiling water, and ordered to renounce their faith…They all shouted, ‘Torture us! We will not recant!’ At this response, the guards stripped the garments from the prisoners’ bodies and bound their hands and feet. Four of them held down a single captive as a ladle holding about a quarter of a litre was filled with the boiling water. Three ladlesful were slowly poured over each body.” (Endo, 6). These are the ones who endured the pain of being boiled alive in Unzen’s hot springs. The horrific events at Unzen regarding the Christian martyrs, shows the high demands of faith that are placed on believers. Due to the persecution they faced, apostasy, however tragic it may be, seemed to be the understandable choice for self preservation. “
The apostate endures a pain none of you can comprehend” (Endo, 8). Through reading about this experience, it causes the audience to consider the cost of being spiritually perfect. These events lead to the message of apostasy in “Unzen” not being judgmental, but rather it is seen in a compassionate and understanding light, due to it being a response to fear.
5. What Modern or Postmodern/Post-Colonial characteristics do you find in this work?
In Unzen, Shusaku Endo’s work reflects a blend of modernist and postmodern/post-colonial characteristics, using each to explore the complexities of faith and cultural identity. Modernist traits are evident in the way Endo searches for deep truths about human suffering and faith, particularly through the martyrs’ experiences (Endo, 11). His focus on unified themes—such as martyrdom, guilt, and the endurance of Christianity in a hostile environment—shows a clear modernist desire to uncover internal meaning beneath the surface of historical events (Endo, 10). Additionally, Endo’s description of their execution— “Firewood was already piled at the base of the stakes, and straw roofs soaked in sea water had been placed on top of them to prevent the flames from raging too quickly and allowing the martyrs to die with little agony. The ropes that bound them to the stakes were tied as loosely as possible, to permit them, up to the very moment of death, to twist their bodies and cry out that they would abandon their faith” (Endo, 11).— attempts to control the reader’s emotional response, another characteristic of modernism.
At the same time, the story uses postmodern and post-colonial ideas to question Western influence and explore how history is shaped by personal experiences. He rejects the idea that Western culture and Christianity are universal by showing how Japanese Christians feel alienated from both their faith and their cultural identity (Endo, 3). The story highlights the fragmented and subjective nature of history, focusing on the personal struggles of the characters rather than a single, clear narrative. Endo also avoids giving definitive answers about the meaning of their suffering (Endo, 12), leaving readers to wrestle with the complex issues of faith, culture, and identity on their own.
6. What does Endo’s worldview seem to be in light of this work?
Endo’s worldview reflects a deep respect for Christian faith and martyrdom, while also grappling with the challenges of living as a Christian in Japan. He highlights the martyrs’ courage and sacrifice but doesn’t shy away from their doubts and human frailty, showing faith as something both profound and difficult (Endo, 12). Ultimately, his worldview seems to emphasize that Christianity’s universal truths are meaningful when lived out authentically within the complexities of a specific culture.
