Themes // Monasia B.

* Hard work pays off in the long run

*Obstacles in your life are there for a reason

*People in your life that may seem like your enemies are there to push you foward in life

*If life gives you lemons make lemonade

*Friendship and work should remain separate

*Love should not be based on ONLY apperances but also personality and good qualities

*Keep your friends close but your ememies closer

*Don't forget where you came from because that can make you strive towards your future

Symbols // Marli D.

          There are numerous symbols that could be found in Memoirs of a Geisha. A lot of the symbolism used in this story are resembled by water, because of Sayuri's blue-gray eyes that showed the water in her personality.

• One example of a symbol found in the story is when Chiyo, which was Sayuri's childhood name, was thinking of running away from the okiya she was living in. The symbol in this segment of the novel was the thoughts Chiyo was having of water running, which inspired her to think about the idea of running away.
• Another example of symbolism that is seen in this book is the transformation from an apprentice to a geisha. This is resembled by a beautiful butterfly coming out of a crysilis after a long time.
• Whenever Sayuri hit obstacles in her life, she would find a way around it. The symbolization of this was how water would hit rocks, but water can find its way around anything. A symbolization such as this was used from Sayuri's personality to her life that has a lot of water in it to the experiences in her life.
• A rice cake in a red box symbolized a geisha's virginity. It's given to men from a geisha, and they would bid money for her mizuage (virginity).
• Sayuri herself was symbolized through water. A strong force water is, yet its soothing and beautiful. Sayuri is seen to be a powerful and beautiful woman in this story. The comparison between the two is frequent because of the constant metaphors of water in the book.

          Symbolism is an intriguing writing style, and is great for imagery. Arthur Golden used symbolism very beautifully in Memoirs of a Geisha. Symbols were used quite frequently in this novel- especially when water was described because Sayuri's personality flows the same way as water does.

Importance of the Time Period // Marli D.

          Memoirs of a Geisha took place in the time period starting in the early 1900's, before and after World War 2. The time period made an extreme impact to the story due to the culture followed by people living in Japan. The lifestyles in Japan were different in the early 1900's than they currently are today.

• In Japan, there were many geisha during the early 1900's. They were trained to learn the arts of Japan at the time, such as the art of the shamisen (a Japanese stringed instrument), singing, and most importantly dance. This fact contributed in making Sayuri's career seem more realistic than it would have today.
• During the early 1900's, men went to see geisha for entertainment but also for the attraction and interests they had for them. Men had different views for women than they do today. Any seduction and abuse that took place in the story that would have seemed profane today, was no big deal back in the day. 
• In the early 1900's people enjoyed different things than they do currently. For example, pale skin color and the back of the neck was seen as attractive. The arts and lifestyles that were popular during this time period in Japan were the ones geisha had to learn and perform. This is important because imagery and ideas may revolve around opinionated people and they must understand when reading novel that people were during this time period were fascinated by different features, traits, etc then we what we find fascinating today, so what happens in the story is less shocking than it would be now. 
• Lastly, the time period was important for this novel because the impact of World War 2 effected the overall conflicts and general plot of the book. Sayuri wouldn't have had as many struggles, such as being forced to leave Gion during the war, if the time period was not during the war.

          In Memoirs of a Geisha, the time period took a great impact to the story mainly because it made the story more realistic and easier to compare or relate to.

Key Conflicts Pt. 2 // Diane S.

• Mameha brings Sayuri to a wrestling match out of Gion, where Sayuri reunites with the Chairman. There, she also meets Nobu, the Chairman's business partner. However, Hatsumomo follows them even there, to another town, to ruin Sayuri's prospects for the future. Mameha, inspired by the wrestlers, comes up with a plan to "throw Hatsumomo off-balance". Although Sayuri would like nothing better than to get rid of Hatsumomo, she would rather not go through with the plan because it involves her feigning interest in Nobu. Sayuri knew that if she became involved with Nobu, with him being the Chairman's business partner, she could never have a future with the Chairman. 
• Nobu proposes that he becomes Sayuri's danna, but Sayuri doesn't want to become his mistress for fear of ruining all chances with the Chairman.  She takes another man as her danna, which angers Nobu so much that he doesn't speak to her afterwards. However, during the time of war, Gion is shut down, and all geisha have to find themselves someplace to live, or they will be shipped off to the factories. Even though he hadn't spoken to her for years, Nobu reappears in Sayuri's life and finds her a safe home, to which Sayuri feels entitled to him for. 
• After the war, Nobu again proposes that he becomes Sayuri's danna, but Sayuri is still hoping for the Chairman instead. Sayuri doesn't want to hurt Nobu's feelings or anger him after all he'd done for her, but she wanted nothing more than having a life with the Chairman, which would become impossible if she became Nobu's mistress. In time, Sayuri discovers that Nobu  has an acquaintanceship with the Minister, but Nobu hates him for his laziness and greed. In desperation, Sayuri sets up a situation in which Nobu would come across her and the Minister in an unfavorable position.
• Sayuri enlists Pumpkin to help  her carry out her plan, but Pumpkin, realizing that Sayuri has feelings for the Chairman, brings him to the designated area instead of Nobu. After all those years, Pumpkin still held a grudge against Sayuri for 'stealing' her spot as the daughter of the okiya, and ruined Sayuri's plan as revenge. Nobu hears of the encounter, however, and is so angry that he wants nothing to do with Sayuri anymore.

Key Conflicts Pt. 1 // Diane S.

• Chiyo, a girl from the ocean-side town of Yoroido, is taken by Mr. Tanaka against her wishes to the district of Gion. There, Chiyo learns that she is to become a geisha, a Japanese entertainer of the arts. However, Chiyo, being so young, only wants to go back home and be reunited with her sister, Satsu, who was also taken from home. 
• At the okiya in Gion, Chiyo meets and is immediately hated by Hatsumomo, the only geisha at the Nitta okiya. Hatsumomo makes Chiyo's life miserable, and accuses her of several crimes that she didn't commit, adding to Chiyo's already large debt. 
• Chiyo meets the Chairman when he helps her when she is upset and in need. Chiyo falls in love with him and does whatever she can to find out more about him. However, because she doesn't see him again for such a long time, she thinks that she'll never encounter him again.
• After Chiyo becomes an apprentice geisha and takes on the new name of Sayuri, her older sister, Mameha, brings her to several parties around Gion so that she could meet people and increase her popularity. However, Hatsumomo follows them wherever they go, ruining their chances to introduce Sayuri to people of importance. Because this moment of an apprentice geisha's life is the most important, Sayuri has to stay at the okiya because Hatsumomo is ruining what little reputation she had.
• Sayuri befriends a girl called Pumpkin at the okiya. They become close friends, but Hatsumomo keeps them apart, determined to make Sayuri's life at the okiya miserable. Sayuri and Pumpkin miss each other, but after Mother adopts Sayuri as the daughter of the okiya, Pumpkin turns against Sayuri, because she herself had been hoping to gain that title. 

Important Events // Mary A.

-Chiyo and her sister, Satsu, are taken away from their parents by Mr. Tanaka to become geishas.

-Satsu and Chiyo are separated from eachother [because they are taken to two different geisha homes].

-The sisters eventually find eachother and come up with a plan to run away, but Satsu runs off with a boy instead.

-Mameha makes Chiyo her "little sister" and Hatsumomo does the same for Pumpkin.

-Several men compete to win Sayuri's [formerly known as Chiyo] virginity, which will hopefully clear all her debts.

-More men compete for Sayuri, but this time, it is for becoming her danna [wealthy man who provides for a geisha].

-Hatsumomo is no longer a part of Sayuri's life, so Sayuri can't be harmed by her anymore.

-The Chairman tells Sayuri about his feelings for her [which leads to the end of the story]

Characters // Mary A.

Nitta Sayuri / Sakamoto Chiyo:

-main character

-protagonist

-narrator

-has interesting gray-blue eyes

-mature, brave, nice, polite, clever, descriptive with her words

-was taken from her parents at a young age by Mr. Tanaka to become a geisha
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Hatsumomo:

-antagonist

-evil, cruel, selfish, successful

-takes advantage of Chiyo/Sayuri by blaming her for things she never did

-Hatsumomo makes Chiyo’s former friend, known as Pumpkin, her ‘younger sister’ just to compete with Chiyo

-tries to ruin Chiyo’s career as a geisha by spreading rumors and stalking her

-eventually, Hatsumomo gets what she deserves in the end
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Mameha:

-very famous geisha in Japan

-becomes Chiyo’s “older sister”, or mentor, to help her become a geisha

-kind, helpful, respectful, and the complete opposite of Hatsumomo

-is the ‘rival’ of Hatsumomo
———————————————————————————————————-
The Chairman:

-runs the electric company in town

-Sayuri met the Chairman shortly after her arrival in Gion [the town where she now lives]
& falls in love with him

-he hides his affection for Sayuri when he finds out that Nobu [his business partner & friend] likes her as well

-nice, elderly man
———————————————————————————————
Dr. Crab:

-physician in Gion

-has an interest in bidding [and winning] for Sayuri’s mizuage, or virginity.
—————————————————————————————————-
Mr. Tanaka:

-wealthy seafood company owner [from Sayuri’s former residence]

-makes an agreement with Sayuri’s father to make her & her sister become geisha’s
—————————————————————————————————-
General Tottori:

-in charge of necessities for the military

-has connections, which makes him a desirable danna [man who provides for a geisha]

-prices rise during the war and he is able to provide items for Sayuri’s okiya [geisha house]

-not affectionate