‭Hayden Frazer‬

‭AP Literature‬

‭Mrs. T‬

‭03/06/2024‬

‭In the novel‬‭Snow Falling on Cedars‬‭written by David‬‭Guterson, the mystery of Kabuo‬

‭Miyamoto's murder trial leaves a reader in a state of suspense by expertly utilizing point of view‬

‭and foreshadowing, as details about the investigation of a conflict over land involving multiple‬

‭generations ultimately illustrate themes of Japanese Americans struggling through prejudice on‬

‭San Piedro Island with the story of the Japanese internment, forbidden love and the treatment of‬

‭the Japanese community.‬

‭Prejudice is a major theme in‬‭Snow Falling on Cedars‬‭with a Japanese man being‬

‭suspected of a crime in post-WWII America. San Piedro Island has a deeply rooted Japanese‬

‭community living on the island, many of whom are American citizens. The internment of this‬

‭community during WWII is a major conflict in the novel, and it serves to give a reader‬

‭perspective into the struggles that the community had to face. The conflict between the white and‬

‭Japanese citizens living on the island ties into the murder trial of Kabuo Miyamoto, a direct‬

‭connection to how the mystery serves to illustrate themes of prejudice. The novel foreshadows‬

‭the internment by a conversation between Hatsue and Ishmael inside their cedar tree. Guterson‬

‭uses the tension between the pair, through Hatsue’s point of view to foreshadow the dark turn of‬

‭events soon to be revealed in the coming days. In an internal monologue of Hatuse, she describes‬

‭her time with Ishmael that night as, “The temporary safety of a quiet way station one must leave‬

‭in the morning” (Guterson 208). The internment plays a role in the mystery aspect of the novel as‬
‭well, with it being the main reason the Miyamoto’s lose the land they had been slowly paying the‬

‭Heins for. Because the deal the two families had agreed upon was meddled with by Etta Heine‬

‭after the Miyamoto were moved the alleged “murder” of Carl Heine is given a motive. Kabuo‬

‭Miyamoto is disadvantaged in the trial because of his Japanese heritage, and Etta Heine‬

‭demonstrates an immense amount of hatred for people of Japanese descent in her testimony‬

‭Therefore creating ties between the mystery of Carl Heines' murder and the unjust prejudice‬

‭against Kabuo and the entirety of the Japanese community face.‬

‭Forbidden love serves an important purpose in‬‭Snow‬‭Falling on Cedars,‬‭both as a link‬

‭between communities and as a symbol of the gap between white and Japanese townspeople‬

‭living on San Piedro Island. This paradoxical relationship is represented by Hatuse and Ishmeal,‬

‭childhood friends who fell in love. They are considered a link because both come from separate‬

‭cultures but this also creates division as neither family believes in having relationships with the‬

‭other race, which is also ironic as they are more similar than they think. Hatsue and Ishmael are‬

‭used to foreshadow events in the book like the Japanese internment mentioned previously. Their‬

‭relationship is considered extremely taboo on both sides, something that becomes even more‬

‭prevalent after the Pearl Harbour attacks. As the trial of Hatuse’s husband Kabuo continues, the‬

‭author reveals more and more about the forbidden love between Hatuse and Ishmael to unravel‬

‭the mystery of the story. This serves to highlight the prejudice Hatsue faces by switching‬

‭between each point of view so a reader may understand the whole story from both perspectives.‬

‭Their young love in the novel is considered tragic in the way they are split apart because of the‬

‭hatred between the white and Japanese communities. The romance ends because of the‬

‭internment as Hatsue is sent away, and Ishmael is drafted, settling the conflict between them,‬

‭which foreshadows the eventual teamwork between the two to free Kabuo.‬
 ‭The treatment of the Japanese citizens on San Piedro Island works in the novel to create‬

‭suspension, as the cards seem to be out of Kabuo’s favor because he is Japanese. Guterson brings‬

‭the reader through twists and turns in the novel, with a reader never being able to fully determine‬

‭if Kabuo is innocent or not. One factor that plays into this is the treatment of him and his‬

‭community in and out of the courtroom. Alvin Hooks, a lawyer playing the role of prosecutor in‬

‭the case, has an exceptionally racist approach to the case. Hooks implores the jurors to‬‭“Look‬

‭into his eyes, consider his face, and ask yourselves what your duty is as citizens of this‬

‭community” (Guterson 415). This statement very obviously references Kabuo being Japanese,‬

‭and the possible outcome of the case is changed because of Hook’s racist undertones. Point of‬

‭view is also used to emphasize the prejudice Kabuo faces in the courtroom. By switching‬

‭between Hatuse, Ishmael, and Kabuo’s viewpoints on the case. Guterson switches back and forth‬

‭between Hatuse and Ishmael regularly simulating a back-and-forth conversation where Hatuse‬

‭pleads with Ishmael to write about the injustice against Kabuo in his paper. Kabuo’s feelings are‬

‭expressed in his conversation with his lawyer Nels, and he laments about the struggles he faces‬

‭being Japanese. Nels states “You figure because you’re from Japanese folks no one will believe‬

‭you anyway” (Guterson 391). Kabuo then replies expressing his feelings with sarcasm, “We’re‬

‭sly and treacherous. You can’t trust a Jap, can you?” (Guterson 391). These two quotes work‬

‭hand in hand to showcase how disadvantaged Kabuo felt just because of the prejudice he has‬

‭experienced in the past. It has changed him into who he is, and spending the last few months in‬

‭the town’s jail has only helped fester these feelings. Nels tries to comfort Kabuo, however after‬

‭going to war for America and still not receiving the treatment he deserves, Kabuo becomes bitter.‬

‭This only proves detrimental to him in the courtroom, with his tactics to try and act stoic as the‬

‭case continues on testimony after testimony.‬

 ‭In conclusion, Guterson uses prejudice against Japanese Americans living on Sand Piedro‬

‭island, and specifically Kabuo to drive the mystery of the murder trial. Through excellent use of‬

‭figurative language and a 3rd person omniscient point of view, a reader is transported through‬

‭time and back again as pieces of evidence fit together like pieces in a puzzle, leaving a reader‬

‭unaware of the outcome until the moments of the book. Through all of the suspense created by‬

‭the unrest a reader experiences going through the stories of prejudice on Sand Piedro island, the‬

‭mystery of Kabuo Miyamoto's murder case underlines allusions to real prejudice Japanese‬

‭Americans faced during and after WWII.‬