Kazuo Ishiguro Family Supper Analysis

I chose to write an alternative ending to the short story “Family Supper” written by Kazuo Ishiguro because it has an open ending. This technique used by the author is very interesting as it creates suspense and lets the reader imagine for himself what happened. On the other hand, it is also somehow unsatisfactory as we want to know if the characters die or not from Fugu’s poison as the author seems to imply because of the way the story begins. Hence, I want to give this story an ending that answers to the questions that the readers may have, not altering the characters personalities and keeping to some extent the author’s style. Ishiguro gives us knowledge about the history of consumption and preparation of this fish and its dangers accurately. …show more content…
He languidly lowered his eyes and whispered once more.
‘She’s a good girl.’
The tea flowed rapidly down my tongue and it tasted particularly soothing.
‘I missed the tea’ I said eventually breaking with the uncomfortable silence that once again reigned in the room. ‘So father, now that the firm folded will you finally retire?’
‘Yes, I believe-‘ he hesitated. ‘I think things have been taken care of.’
His response reassured me for a moment and I nodded. However, when my eyes met Kikuko’s a sharp pang of pain struck through me like a knife. Although I haven’t seen her in a long time, I was able to understand the traces of worry in her face and I instantly knew what she was …show more content…
It burns like fire. My throat and tongue were in flames. It was drowning out my voice gradually. I tried to scream, but not a word made it out of my mouth. I felt the poison of the fish running throughout my body and painfully slicing me from inside. I couldn’t move, I was left alone with my thoughts. Like fire. I felt it instantaneously burning my dreams and my hopes like fire, but I didn't care. There was nothing much for me in California.
What has my father done in his seek for honour…kill his own family? Kill his daughter and his son? I was frightened …how was that possible?
‘Well, at least’- I thought in disgust ‘at least he is a “man of principle”, just like his partner Watanabe. He should be proud of himself.’
But I blamed myself too. I blamed me for leaving my family. Now we will all be together forever. Forever…
‘That is a dreadful word’ my father used to drawl-‘ It is a meaningless word, too.’ Well, it is undeniably dreadful. However, with just some hours or minutes left to die it didn’t seem meaningless at all to me. My introspective was running so fast that sometimes it had no guiding thread.
My thoughts ceased for a moment. The throat was getting tighter and tighter, I couldn’t think correctly. Being ready or not it didn’t make a difference, I would die in a few minutes.
Poor mother…for a second I felt relieved. I was relieved that I would finally encounter her and tell her how sorry I was. That was my last