A Dubious Dinner
Throughout time, many readers have read countless works of literature unaware of the label the work has; this label can either be commercial or literary fiction. If a reader desires a short-term, simple escape to reality, commercial fiction would be the most optimal selection. Although if they are desiring a more “complex, lasting aesthetic and intellectual pleasure,” then literary fiction would fit the description (Arp and Johnson 62). Commercial fiction is a quick and easy read, and the reader is only focused on “what happens next” (Arp and Johnson 65). Literary fiction takes time to examine and decipher. As result of a literary work’s complexity, the work ought to be read with patience and receptiveness to truly enjoy and …show more content…
Using his short story, the author is able to “[illuminate] some aspect of human life or behavior” and give “a keener awareness of our humanity” through the author’s eyes (Arp and Johnson 63-67). The author is able to enlighten the audience on the dangers of depression and shame by revealing the impact on one man and his family. Soon after the abrupt collapse of the father’s firm, Watanabe kills himself and his family because of the shame he feels from the failure of the business (Ishiguro 568-570). Using Watanabe’s story, Ishiguro proposes how hazardous and influential humiliation can be. The author continues to emphasize the topic of disgrace and despair through the father of the story. Towards the beginning of the story, the father states twice that Watanabe is a “man of principle” (Ishiguro 568). By stating that, he believes Watanabe was a man with upright morals and standards. Whether the father feels his business partner was justified in his gruesome act becomes questionable. The reader attempts to decipher what the father meant by repeating this twice, and if the author is trying to convince others that Watanabe’s act was reasonable. The range of thinking is expanded by Ishiguro through the enticement of questioning if suicide can be justified at any point even if it means …show more content…
At the start of “A Family Supper,” Ishiguro writes about the hazardous Fugu fish and towards the end the family consumes a pot of fish as the main course for their dinner (Ishiguro 572). The reader begins to challenge the idea that his father has given the poisonous fish to his family to consume and murder them just as Watanabe has done to his family. Referring back to all of the previous conversations, the reader attempts to prove to themselves if the father left any evidence that he would commit such a horrendous crime. In the end, the reader pieces together an ending that they can be satisfied
Throughout time, many readers have read countless works of literature unaware of the label the work has; this label can either be commercial or literary fiction. If a reader desires a short-term, simple escape to reality, commercial fiction would be the most optimal selection. Although if they are desiring a more “complex, lasting aesthetic and intellectual pleasure,” then literary fiction would fit the description (Arp and Johnson 62). Commercial fiction is a quick and easy read, and the reader is only focused on “what happens next” (Arp and Johnson 65). Literary fiction takes time to examine and decipher. As result of a literary work’s complexity, the work ought to be read with patience and receptiveness to truly enjoy and …show more content…
Using his short story, the author is able to “[illuminate] some aspect of human life or behavior” and give “a keener awareness of our humanity” through the author’s eyes (Arp and Johnson 63-67). The author is able to enlighten the audience on the dangers of depression and shame by revealing the impact on one man and his family. Soon after the abrupt collapse of the father’s firm, Watanabe kills himself and his family because of the shame he feels from the failure of the business (Ishiguro 568-570). Using Watanabe’s story, Ishiguro proposes how hazardous and influential humiliation can be. The author continues to emphasize the topic of disgrace and despair through the father of the story. Towards the beginning of the story, the father states twice that Watanabe is a “man of principle” (Ishiguro 568). By stating that, he believes Watanabe was a man with upright morals and standards. Whether the father feels his business partner was justified in his gruesome act becomes questionable. The reader attempts to decipher what the father meant by repeating this twice, and if the author is trying to convince others that Watanabe’s act was reasonable. The range of thinking is expanded by Ishiguro through the enticement of questioning if suicide can be justified at any point even if it means …show more content…
At the start of “A Family Supper,” Ishiguro writes about the hazardous Fugu fish and towards the end the family consumes a pot of fish as the main course for their dinner (Ishiguro 572). The reader begins to challenge the idea that his father has given the poisonous fish to his family to consume and murder them just as Watanabe has done to his family. Referring back to all of the previous conversations, the reader attempts to prove to themselves if the father left any evidence that he would commit such a horrendous crime. In the end, the reader pieces together an ending that they can be satisfied