Examine Guterson's Presentation Of Character & Setting In Chapters 1-7 Of 'Snow Falling On Cedars.' What Themes Seem To Be Emerging?

This essay hasn't yet been marked by one of our teachers

You can view all our essays on David Guterson that have been Marked by Teachers

The first 200 words of this essay...

Examine Guterson's Presentation Of Character & Setting In Chapters 1-7 Of 'Snow Falling On Cedars.' What Themes Seem To Be Emerging?

The opening of a novel is extremely important and the author must carefully consider exactly how he wishes to present the setting and characters to the reader. After all, first impressions are virtually impossible to reverse and are everlasting. Guterson has obviously taken this into account when writing the opening of 'snow falling on cedars.' He reveals enough information about the characters and setting to make them credible, but is careful not to bombard the reader with an excess of information.

The setting is important in any novel but it is of particular significance in 'snow falling on cedars.' It is due to the location of the island that the hostility towards the Japanese is so prominent. The fact that San Piedro is small and a relatively close-knit community also magnifies the character's personalities and their interactions can be very closely scrutinized. Guterson spends a considerable amount of time describing the island and the town of Amity Harbour. He describes the town as an:

'Eccentric, rainy, wind-beaten sea village, downtrodden and mildewed.'