The Last Samurai Essay

By Bradley Phoenix
Taro instantly was brought into a tough world. Right off the bat, his parents are killed hes left to fend for himself. Being the son of a samurai, he was proud and used to being spoilt and it is a negative force in his adventure. But later he matures after he is given leadership as a warrior, and he becomes wise. After his battles are over, Taro strives for peace and love, so he runs away. The next few paragraphs will support his character development. Taro is spoilt and proud for the first few years of his life. His father was a samurai, and he is used to being treated well at the snap of his fingers. Suddenly he is thrown into a chaotic scramble where he needs to fend for himself. It doesnt help with his proud and bigheaded nature when he needs to blend in with everyone. Even he admits, for I had more pride than sense. (Haugaard, 7) He says this because he wants to retake his fathers name out of pride. Luckily, his pride leaves for another all-important trait After Taro changes his name to Murakami Harutomo and is put into battle, he learns a lot about war, and people too. He begins as a Konidatai, someone who gives the Samurai their portion of rice. He is promoted, when his army wants to ambush the defending castle. He is left in charge of a few people left behind while the others pretended to retreat. As he realizes, I understood that in a war people died-it was not a childrens game with bamboo swords. (Haugaard, 147-148) This says that he has passed through his bigheaded, wanting-to-show-off stage of personality. Even though wisdom is a most important trait, one more important trait can emerge out of it. Peace and love is Harutomos final trait when he meets Aki-hime, in whom he immediately falls in love with. Aki is the youngest daughter of Lord Zakoji, who becomes a priest. Iwamura is attacked by Oda; Harutomo was sent to Lord Katsuyori for help, but receives none. He rides back to Iwamura to find his servant and Aki-hime, and then they run away. As his story concludes, The story of my youth, the orphan boy who became a samurai, ended with the death of my master. Yet I found peace in my love for Aki-hime. (Haugaard, 234) This shows that instead of avenging his master, he finds peace and love at the end of his tale. Taros character development is quite vast and obvious in this tale. He prides himself on being a samurais son. He takes caution with wisdom at their attack on Iwamura. At the fall of his master he runs away to be in love and peace. While the rest of his life is unknown, he should know that sometimes there is no better trait than love.