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Most people at some point in their lives undergo a journey of self discovery. Naomi in Obasan and Rose in Simon's Luck both journey through the circle of self discovery by revealing, remembering and reconciling their past experiences, and thus become their true selves. Without completing this journey, they would both remain fragmented personalities and not achieve a peace with themselves concerning all aspects of their lives.
One of the first steps in this journey is to use the knowledge one already has of the past. By remembering experiences and events of the past both Naomi and Rose were able to progress through the circle of their journey. Throughout both stories, these women have helpers that either suggest or force them to realize and deal with their personal histories. One's history is oneself and we cannot be complete without remembering. (Kogawa, 54) Throughout Obasan, Aunt Emily helps Naomi by providing her with pictures, letters and pamphlets which spark memories that Naomi had long since pushed away. The time between the events which Naomi must remember, and the year 17 when her process of self discovery begins, is the solace which allows Naomi to handle the painful process of dealing with memories. On the other hand, Rose is able to begin accepting her past only by separating herself physically from the events. Naomi wished to remain close to her childhood home in Granton, Alberta whereas Rose began to recall her past once she traveled from Kingston to the West Coast and started a new life away from the people and places of her memories.
Remembrance of the past, however, is seldom easy or undertaken willingly. One of the striking similarities between Naomi and Rose is that both struggle to not remember. Naomi's belief is that "Crimes of history… can stay in history" (Kogawa, 44). She states that if she allows herself to remember everything she will be drawn into a downward spiral; thus she must only skirt the edges of her memories. (Kogawa, 57) Contrarily, Rose denies her memories by using her acting abilities to play the roles of different people. She refuses to be her true self, for fear of being unable to keep her memories at bay. (Munro, 154) To their benefit, both characters do recall the memories they wish to avoid. Naomi is able to use the photographs of her family, as well as letters, dreams and mementos of the war. Rose is reunited with a lady from her past whom she initially doesn't remember. Subsequent to their conversation, she recalled not only the people and events of Kingston, but of the many places and people she knew previously. (Munro, 16) Without these helpers neither Naomi nor Rose would have allowed themselves to remember the past. Forgotten memories would linger because "'However much the effort to forget' says one 'there is no forgetfulness.'"(Milton, ) With unresolved memories, both Naomi and Rose would have remained as fragmented persons since neither would have found peace with themselves or a unity with the past.
Although it was impossible for Naomi and Rose to truly forget their memories, neither could have completed the journey of self discovery without additional information that was necessary to push them towards the point of reconciliation with their past. Throughout Obasan, Naomi was struggling with the death of her uncle and her acceptance of the treatment of Japanese Canadians during WWII. In addition, a reoccurring theme concerned that of her missing mother. Naomi's mother had returned to Japan at the beginning of the war and was caught in the bombing of Nagasaki. She wasn't killed but suffered the horrible effects of radiation and remained there until her eventual death. Naomi's mother did not wish for her children to discover her whereabouts since in Japanese culture painful and emotional events were rarely discussed (Kogawa, 64). Without this information however, Naomi's questions regarding her mother remained unanswered and the full effects of the war on her life would not be realized. Given the intense bond children have with their mothers, and especially since her mother became the focal point of Naomi's world, she could not complete the cycle of self knowledge without this information. (Woodward, ) As Naomi said "Beneath the hiding I am there with you" (Kogawa, 65) and despite her lack of knowledge, in her heart she was still connected to her mother. She often spoke to her absent mother and asked her for help. (Kogawa, 64) This was her way of looking inside herself and finding the will to advance her journey toward accepting the effects of the past on her life. Through the unforgiving facts of the documents, letters and family journals kept by Aunt Emily, Naomi was able to discover the life of her mother, reconstruct her own past and become her true self. (Milton, 1)
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The knowledge Rose needed however, was not something she was searching for or wanted to uncover. She discovered in passing from a previous acquaintance that Simon had died. Simon, whom she had once been romantically involved with, prompted her decision to leave Kingston. At this stage, Rose was still unwilling to come to terms with her past. She used her skill as an actress to hide behind different personalities, and Simon's death struck Rose as a disruption. She thought it unfair that she had not been told of his death earlier and she still thought of herself as the only person that could lack control over life. (Munro, 170) Rose was not seeking information, nor was she consciously undertaking this journey to self-knowledge. Instead, this newly acquired information forced Rose to look at her past and begin to sort through and reconcile her previous decisions and actions.
The discoveries made by both characters, although not sought after and painful to acquire, were necessary in order to forgive not only the people who caused the pain, but also to strive for the forgiveness of self. As a result, they could move forward into the final phase of their self-discovery cycle.
After the painful process of remembering and discovering has taken place, the act of emotionally and mentally reconstructing ones true person may begin. This aspect of the journey must be consciously undertaken, as the spark of hope begins to burn and true forward motion to self discovery is initiated. In both Obasan and Simon's Luck the reader wasn't taken through this process with the characters, but was left with the knowledge that self-actualization does occur and reconciliation with the past is reached. Naomi is unwilling to live with disorder and internal chaos especially when it concerns herself and is not content with who she is currently. (Kogawa, 5) After remembering and gaining prior information, she is able and willing, to put to rights her past and become the person she is meant to be.
Rose, in contrast has not been eager to follow this path throughout the entire journey. She is upset when she realizes she is not incapable as once believed, but rather she is the one in charge. She doesn't suddenly become empowered with self-realization however as she believes this knowledge has come too late. (Smith, 1) Simon's Luck leaves Rose with the potential to still complete this journey and it is through other stories of Rose that the reader realizes she does undergo the resolution of her past actions.
The act of reconciliation is the most important step of this journey to self-discovery. Although new information and the re-discovery of forgotten memories is necessary to begin the acceptance of the past, to become one's true self an understanding of how and why these events have effected you is necessary.
A journey of self discovery is not restricted to those with circumstances similar to Naomi and Rose such as strange and difficult pasts, or unbalanced personalities. Far from being uncommon, many people will undergo such a journey at some point in their lives. Only during this journey will a person be able to become whom she is truly meant to be, and develop a peace with oneself regarding the events, actions and decisions of ones past.-
Works Cited
Feng, Pin-Chia and Lui, Kate. "Joy Kogawa; Obasan". World Literatures in English. 000. http//www.eng.fju.edu.tw/canada/kogawa-past.html
Kogawa, Joy. Obasan. Toronto Penguin Books. 181.
Milton, Edith. "Unnecessary Precautions". The New York Times. September 5, 18.
http//www.princeton.edu/~howarth/557/obasan.html
Munro, Alice. "Simon's Luck". Selected Stories. Toronto McClelland & Stewart. 16.
Smith, Wendy. "Alice Munro Selected Stories". Wendy Smith Book Reviews. 16.
http//mrlloyd.shuckandjive.com/wen/munro.htm
Woodward, Mariann T. "Obasan by Joy Kogawa". Under the Covers. April 4, 1.
http//silcom.com/~manatee/kogawa_obasan.html
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