Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha (Original Title: Memoirs of a Geisha ) is the debut novel of American writer Arthur Golden from the year 1997.

Action

Japan 1929: Nine-year old Chiyo lives with her older sister Satsu in a Japanese fishing village. Her mother is very ill, and so her father decides to give away the two girls. While Chiyo Nitta okiya in the lands in Kyoto, her sister is forced into prostitution in the neighboring district.

In the okiya, a geisha house, Chiyo learns pumpkin head and the cruel but successful Hatsumomo, the first geisha of the house know. Pumpkin head is a girl of her age with which Chiyo understood well from the beginning. Hatsumomo other hand, sees through the " newcomer " threatens their position, because the pretty Chiyo could one day a more popular geisha in Gion be as Hatsumomo. Therefore, they tried to make the small fishing girl's life hell. She promises Chiyo, to tell her where her sister was walked to where she would meet her forever every wish. She agrees, and Hatsumomo tells perform their tasks that can be Chiyo's debt to skyrocket. It seems that could never pay back their debts and the girl would have to work forever as a maid in their house in order to save money.

One day, however, attended to everyone's surprise the great geisha Mameha Chiyo's okiya and surprised everyone with their request to want to make Chiyo to her younger sister. Mameha is Chiyo's big sister, that is Mameha must Chiyo trained as a Geisha, help her to socialize, and take them to their own commitments. At the ceremony, be explained by the Mameha and Chiyo to sisters, looking her Mameha according to the tradition of a Geisha names from: Sayuri. With mother, the head of the Nitta - Okyia that keeps Chiyo for an uncertain investment, Mameha includes the following agreement: If Sayuri manages to pay all their debts to their twentieth year, Mameha ultimately gets twice their normal share of Sayuri's revenue otherwise, she gets only half. Mother suggests this trade because it has only managed a Geisha, until her twentieth year, the total debt to recoup - Hatsumomo. Sayuri must therefore go back to school ( after she had attempted to escape with her sister shortly after her arrival, it was forbidden her ) and learned the shamisen and sing and dance.

To them before Hatsumomos cruelty - at parties doing this all to make Sayuri ridiculous - to protect Sayuri Mameha shields extreme. While pumpkin head with Hatsumomo by a commitment approaches the next Sayuri sits in her okiya and exercise play or dance shamisen. Sayuri accompanied Mameha therefore only if it is reasonably certain that Hatsumomo will not show up.

So visit Mameha and Sayuri one day, hosted by the Iwamura Electric a sumo bout where Sayuri the president of the company, Nobu, and get to know the director, Iwamura Ken again sees. Sayuri knows the director of an earlier encounter, as it has been nine years old weeping beside a stream and he comforted them, you bought an ice cream and gave his handkerchief. Since that day, she was crazy about this man without knowing his name. While Sayuri recognizes the Director immediately, seems no longer to be able to remember these encounters. To their disappointment other Mameha asked them also to look at the disfigured and armed burns Nobu. Nobu, which can be very hurtful, is fond of Sayuri, he gives her a comb and jewelry. In time, Sayuri begins to appreciate him and his friendship; nevertheless it is the director far more important.

A key experience for Sayuri's life is their Mizuage ( defloration ), which will be auctioned to the highest bidder, more or less ( this practice of defloration against money was later rejected by Mineko Iwasaki Goldens source ). The clever design of Mameha to Sayuri Mizuage developed into a contest between two men, what the price scary in the height allows for quick. For Sayuri Mizuage the highest sum always in Gion is paid - 11,500 yen. With this sum, it is possible for her at once, to get rid of all debts. Mother ( it 's all about money basically ) then decides to adopt her, that you miss no yen from Sayuri's revenue.

Through its adoption Sayuri is now better protected because Hatsumomo mother explains that Sayuri was the main source of income and her okiya therefore no hair should be curved before Hatsumomos atrocities. Hatsumomo Sayuri's adoption sinks deeper and deeper, her bouts of cruelty take over their friends, and finally throws mother out of the okiya.

When the Second World War breaks out, it's Sayuri herself and her okiya initially good. Many goods that are rationed, gets the okiya about Sayuri's danna, a general who can reach a lot about his position in the military for them. However, eventually the shortage is also increasingly felt, and the geisha quarter Gion is closed. Many geishas Search For fear of factory labor and prostitution for shelter where they can stay until the district would open again. Sayuri tried it first on the general, who can not help her. Then they shall be appointed by Nobu in a tea house, which can get her an accommodation.

As Sayuri returns to the newly opened Gion and in their okiya again after five years, she is asked by Nobu for a favor. He wants it finds the Deputy Finance Minister, a person whom Nobu obnoxious, maintains, so this contributes to saving Iwamura Electric. At the same time he announced to her that he will offer her danna as soon as the company is back on his feet. That is Nobu her danna, but is precisely what Sayuri is afraid secretly. You like Nobu, but her heart belongs to the director, who unfortunately seems to show no interest in her. Now, if Nobu is danna her fears Sayuri, that could mean the end for their efforts to win the director for themselves.

Therefore, she decides to radically step. She wants to destroy Nobus feelings for her, she feels as an obstacle in their efforts in one fell swoop. Since Nobu the Minister of a terrible man holds - and moreover, because he is very interested in Sayuri - it decides to do exactly what Nobu would never expect her to sleep with the Minister. Execute this plan, Sayuri is not easy; Nobu it is a good friend, but the attention to her director is ultimately more important.

Thus, their plan also succeeds, she asks pumpkin head, as if by chance to lead Nobu to the place of their meeting with the Minister. But Sayuri has been bitterly disappointed in pumpkin head, which she has kept for her friend. Pumpkin head is angry and jealous of Sayuri because she was adopted and thus has a home while she's been themselves, pumpkin head, not adopted and now lives in a simple okiya, Sayuri what makes them responsible. To take revenge on her, she does not bring Nobu, but the Director. She knows Sayuri's feelings for him and wants to hurt with what succeeds also.

For three days they will hear neither of Nobu still somewhat by the Director. But then she is asked one evening to come to the tea house. Awaits you there Nobu, who knows nothing of her meeting with the Minister. Instead, sitting there by the Director. Sayuri, is ashamed incredible, expecting a reprimand for her behavior. The director, who has learned of pumpkin brains that originally Nobu and he should not see Sayuri and the Minister wants, especially to know why Sayuri did that. He tells her that he would not stand in the way Nobus affection for her, because he appreciates him as a friend beyond measure. That's why he had his feelings for them retained. As Sayuri then tells him that they solely did everything she has done to get closer to him, he kisses her.

The director is so Sayuri's danna. Later, she emigrated to New York and opened there with his help, a tea house. It is implied that she has a son with the director, but explicitly said it will not.

Genesis

Arthur Golden lived after his degree in Japanese art and history from Harvard and Columbia University, and his master's degree in English literature, for several years in Japan. He is said to have been inspired when writing his first work of a meeting in Tokyo, at the Golden the illegitimate son of a respected businessman and a geisha met. This encounter was fascinated by the author so much that he started over a ten year period of time to explore every detail of the Japanese geisha culture. During the research for his novel, he is said to have mainly based on the experience of the geisha Mineko Iwasaki, a good friend of his grandmother. Iwasaki had for years as a famous Geisha charmed the Japanese upper class.

Reception

The novel quickly became a commercial success and was able to prevail in the literature bestseller lists in many countries. 2005, the material under the direction of Rob Marshall was filmed - see Memoirs of a Geisha (film).

Criticism

" Memoirs of a Geisha is a novel full of impressive intensity. Golden is a masterpiece succeeded. "