Yoshiko's purpose in the novel The White Boy Shuffle is much more than just being a "mail order bride". She becomes a powerful companion to Gunnar by exposing him to Japanese literature and culture. Through this exposure, Gunnar develops a new, more complex view of his world. Further, Yoshiko's exposure to western culture (initially through Gunnar's poetry) and the English language have allowed her to develop a strong relationship with her new husband.
Upon meeting and getting married, Yoshiko defends herself against Betty and Veronica successfully, thus winning their approval as opposed to fighting with them outright. This display of confidence gives Gunnar and his family more confidence in their relationship. Gunnar's world seems to open up literally and figuratively the moment Yoshiko touches Gunnar's anus for the first time. The newlyweds are off to college together, a place full of possibility (even though we end up seeing Gunnar being pretty disappointed). After a hard day at class, he returns to his dorm butt naked and falls into Yoshiko's lap. Her response is very casual, revealing that their relationship has risen to a much greater level over the course of their time together.
What makes this scene interesting is how casual she remains throughout the bizarre events. Her behavior in part is what makes people uncomfortable with the novels course, as her apathy adds a sort of surrealism to the novel that people don't expect.
Yoshiko's behavior illuminates how comfortable she and Gunnar have become over the few weeks they've known each other. As mentioned in class, Yoshiko's constant butt poking is one of the many twists on stereotypes the novel presents. Typically, African American males are supposed to be extremely masculine, however this kind of behavior between Gunnar and his wife is emasculating him in a way that makes the stereotype not fit quite right.
By the end of the scene, with the help of his entire Writing 104 class, Yoshiko has convinced Gunnar to publish a book of poetry.
Yoshiko's most important influence may come from her letters to Gunnar while he's away playing basketball. She sends him traditional Japanese literature that creates a new perspective for Gunnar. Of course, the literature resonates with him because he's a nerd who loves to read, but it gives him an idea of what other philosophies there could be in the world. Eventually, the most relevant ideology he receives from Yoshiko is that suicide is not giving up, but a defiance against the enemy.
This idea drives the end of the novel, as countless people begin sending Gunnar death poems before the commit suicide, in haiku format. Japanese death poems were written by samurai before committing sepukku by cutting their abdomen and bleeding to death. It was considered honorable as opposed to pitiful.
Yoshiko provided Gunnar the information he needed to drive the movement, however when Gunnar believes it is time for him to commit suicide she is violently against the idea. She cries out that she knew Gunnar would leave her with a baby to care for on her own. Ironically, the only Japanese character in the novel is against the Japanese suicide method that is sweeping the nation! It is hard to say whether Yoshiko is against the idea of seppuku as a whole, or for her family in particular. But there is no doubt that Yoshiko played a pivotal role in the novel.
The entire character of Yoshiko is very unreal, but Beatty doesn't seem to be conflicted by the lack of realism. Although she appears out of nowhere, she quickly becomes one of my favorite characters. Towards the end of the book, she is not sad that Gunnar would choose to commit suicide, rather she is angry that he would abandon her and his child, something I think shows the deep commitment she has to her relationship. She expects more from Gunnar and demands him of it.
ReplyDeleteI also thought it was really refreshing how Yoshiko was a multi dimensional character as compared to the first two books we read. She's funny (like when she pointed to the sun and said konnichiwa when Gunnar tried to say konbanwa) and emotionally attatched (rather than being depicted as just a sex object or a "mail order bride" like you pointed out).
ReplyDeleteYoshiko's reaction to Gunnar's suicide idea was what really made me see her as a real and important character in the novel. At first, she seemed very unreal, having met Gunnar off of a wife ordering service and barely speaking english. But, as the novel progressed, she and Gunnar had obvious chemistry and she changed Gunnar.
ReplyDeleteYoshiko was definitely an unexpected high point of the book, and adds to the list of funny, strange twists that Beatty puts on our expectations. Your post opens up how important she is to the advancement of Gunnar's character, in having another of the few someones that he truly loves. Also, lol at your mentions of Yoshiko's "butt-poking", I'd agree that this is meant to emasculate stereotypes of the black male like you said. I really thought her character would make for an awkward and strange addition, but her presence enriches the book for sure.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the romance between Gunnar and Yoshiko, along with their banter-- was a high point in the novel that I wasn't expecting. I like how Beatty plays with the expectation of a quiet mail order bride, and ends up completely turning it on its head, making her loud, vocal, and funny.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Yoshiko has a surprisingly powerful role in this novel. She seems to keep Gunnar grounded throughout his time at college. Gunnar certainly doesn't have an easy time, but being able to come home to Yoshiko, or write her letters on the basketball bench, seems to have helped him a great deal. He is definitely better off than Scoby who ends up getting very homesick and suicidal. In fact thinking about her and his future child is what keeps him from drowning himself.
ReplyDeleteYoshiko is incredibly important to the plot of White Boy Shuffle. In your last paragraph, you bring up a good point that she is strongly against Gunnar's suicide. Not only is it Gunnar fighting his stereotypes in White Boy Shuffle, it is also Yoshiko. She is so much more than a "mail order bride" or exotic fetish, that other books often portray Asian women as. She has a distinct character, is a genuine friend to Gunnar, and plays a pivotal role in the way Gunnar thinks and acts. Props to Beatty for including this.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is interested, there's an excellent spoken word poem critiquing portrayal of Asian women in literature called "To JK Rowling, from Cho Chang" ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFPWwx96Kew ).
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ReplyDeleteChildren’s book awards