Analysis Of Sachi In The Samurai's Garden

The characters all change and improve their personal self esteem, as when Sachi has learned to love herself and accept the beauty of life and find herself through the actions of Matsu, and the words of Stephen. Matsu has affected Sachi not by what he claimed, but by what he had done; Matsu cared for Sachi and showed empathy and respect where nobody else had, making it all the more valuable, and that gradually assisted Sachi in having hope for herself and for her dignity. Throughout the forty or more years that Sachi had been afflicted with leprosy, she went on that journey of self-actualization, and Matsu helped her through it, through his simple thoughts and actions, as when he came to Sachi’s rescue when she ran away from her own death, when

Throughout the Samurai’s garden, the majority of they ways that Stephen influences others is mainly by projecting himself amidst of all the other character’s problems. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it had changed both Matsu, Sachi, and Keiko as people and their mindsets. When Keiko informs Stephen of their break up and her brother’s death, Stephen thinks, “I couldn’t imagine what it must mean for her family to lose their only son” (Tsukiyama 188). Instead of first being devastated of their break up and inquiring Keiko on why and being upset, he comforts her, knowing that she is going through a tough time. This shows that Stephen puts others before himself, and that in turn affects how people think of him and what their current state is. For example, if Stephen were to be mad at Keiko for their break up instead of being kind and understanding, keeping his emotions all to himself; Stephen would have influenced Keiko in a bad way, not earning a permanent place in her heart, rather invoking dislike and hate. In addition, Stephen comforting Keiko in the time of need makes sure that Keiko herself is not pushed of her own breaking point, which would have been another problem altogether. Joining the two reasons that Keiko would never be same if Stephen had acted differently, and the fact that he inquired about her brother in the first place show that Stephen affects other’s mindsets and personality through his empathy and his idea basically that nobody should die