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Snow Falling On Cedars By David Guterson

885 Words4 Pages

Braden Birdsell Ms. Krason Pre-AP English 5/24/24 Snow Falling On Cedars: Analysis of Kabuo Miyamoto “Snow Falling on Cedars” is a short novel written by David Guterson about Kabuo Miyamoto, a cold defendant on the wrong side of the law. Guterson utilizes the setting to contrast Kabuo Miyamoto’s character, from a fringe country courtroom compared to his blank, indifferent gaze. Guterson uses this contrast to create a powerful opening that introduces us to Kabuo Miyamoto and what he is like without directly telling us. Gutterson emphasizes that Kabuo is a reserved and cold character, but that beyond this external shell he is complex and well-intentioned, separating pieces of his mind to focus on the majestic natural works of life. He does this by comparing and contrasting Kabuo from the courthouse, county jail, and snow and how they represent …show more content…

At this time the jail was still, having a constant feeling of hopelessness with a bleak environment to match. The story describes the jail as having “...no window anywhere in his basement cell, no portal through which the autumn light could come to him.” This illustrates that the jail Kabuo was being held in for several months lacked any breach of light that could’ve reached him. The author includes this to emphasize that Kabuo enjoys nature and his freedom, and moreover that it’s been stripped from him for a long time, unable to see the sunlight outside the walls he’s been confined to. This shows that Kabuo misses the liberties he had before he was incarcerated, and that he may not be to blame for the crime he was accused of due to his wholehearted manner towards nature. In comparison, the courtroom he sits in awaiting his judgment is dull and jaded, lacking the spark that the snow sprinkling down the window does. He finds the snow so beautiful because he himself wishes to be as carefree and spontaneous, yet so graceful and elegant as the

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