How Does Mitsuko Change In The Deep River

In the book “Deep River” by Shusaku Endo, the character Mitsuko goes through an abundance of trials in search of peace for her soul. Her longing for love and for self-happiness was not found in materials, through actions of pleasure, or through mindless acts of service. There is a sudden change in Mitsuko’s outlook on the world and life when she is submerged in the waters of the Ganges River. She is transformed and feels at peace knowing that the burdens of life and worries are all within the river of humanity and will be washed away (Endo 210,211). Throughout the whole book, Mitsuko feels an empty void inside of her that she has been longing to fill. Throughout Mitsuko’s whole trip to India she did not care about the shows, attractions, or other sight-seeing adventures (Endo 175). Mitsuko felt that the River Ganges and the goddess Chāmundā, were the components that were really important to her because through them they could wash away and bare the sufferings of life (Endo 175). Also, Mitsuko

Throughout her life Mitsuko has been caught up in boys, a divorce, and a sense of no love and true happiness (Endo 210,211). Towards the end of the book it can then be revealed that Mitsuko has finally got a grasp on what she has been looking for and that she is finally seeing the world the way that Ōtsu has. She realizes that any burden or mistake she has made can be washed away clean and that she does not have to carry the burdens of life on her own (Endo 210). Throughout this book it was evident that everyone’s life including Mitsuko’s consists of lots of pain and burdens. At the conclusion of the book Mitsuko transforms her train of thought to realize even though she does not have a full grasp on reality, she knows that rich or poor, young or old life keeps flowing on for all of us and that there is a greater being that carries that burdens for the whole of