"A Family Supper," by Kazuo Ishiguro, is a story of uncertainty, nervousness, emotions, and loss of love in the family.

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A family supper

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"A Family Supper," by Kazuo Ishiguro, is a story of uncertainty, nervousness, emotions, and loss of love in the family. The narrator, Ishiguro, is a Protagonist, was born in the Tokyo, Japan. He is returning home from California some two years after the death of his mother. After the WWII, Watanabe's despondency of the loss of the company leads him to take his life and his family members. The Protagonist's mother, who is believed by her husband to have lost hope in her life, commits a suicide as well. The Protagonist's father who lives with the loss of his wife and his friend and business partner, Watanabe, feels hopelessness that leads him to consider suicide as a relief from loneliness and guilt. "A Family Supper," by Kazuo Ishiguro explores the psychology of the desperate father, whose uncertainty about his life will be judged by the bond of love he shares with his son.

This story takes place in Japan after WWII. Kazuo Ishiguro returns his native home from California to visit his father and his sister, who lives in the Kamakura district. The garden creates an atmosphere of anxiety and worries: "Much of the garden had fallen into shadow" (466). The garden provides sensory background about her mother. Her worries, beliefs in ghosts, and disappointment on her son's behavior leads her to commit suicide as narrator agrees that "My relationship with my parents had become somewhat strained around the period" (465). It's a part of Japanese culture that people don't live a disgrace life. It's an honor to die. Suicide for the business partner and even for the air force pilots is glorified by the father. The description of the house contributes conflict and also reveals his father's character. The protagonist, while walking through his old home, remarks "I had forgotten how large the house was [...] but the rooms were all startlingly empty" (469). This parallels with the illustration of his father - the owner of the house - who closes himself off emotionally from the rest of the world, including his children; when the protagonist asks his sister if their father is overly upset concerning the fall of his company, she replies "Don't know. You can never tell with father" (468). The large, empty, cold rooms can be likened to the father, who appears statue of emotions and warmth. The Father foresees his future with no body at his home. He wants some one who take care him. He would feel happy if Ishiguro stays there: "If you wish to stay here, I mean in this house, you would be very welcome" (472). A model of battleship symbolizes glorious death and victory, love, and pride of real happiness. In every battle, an army tries to defeat their enemies. The bond of trust and love help them fulfill their dreams. The dreams and love, which their family depends on has been shattered by Ishiguro's behavior.

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The story is written in first person prospective, allowing us to know and understand the thoughts of his father and himself. However, Ishiguro thoughts are never given for himself, but we can portray his character through the conversation and his actions as negligence and irresponsible son, who doesn't care about his family and the need of love, which his parents expect from him. At once, he can't recognize his mother's photograph: "Who is that old women in the white kimono" (470). On one side he says that she looks lot older, but on the other side he says, "It's dark. ...

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