Choose characters and examine how they have been presented in the novel thus far - 'Snow Falling On Cedars'.

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Choose characters and examine how they have been presented in the novel thus far

The story, ‘Snow Falling On Cedars,’ is unveiled through regular flashbacks from the perspective of both minor and major characters. Guterson has structured the novel in such a way that once characters are introduced, described and portrayed in public circumstances, they are further developed through flashbacks of memory and thought. Characters such as Ishmael Chambers, Carl Heine and Hatsue Miyamoto become well–rounded as Guterson’s third-person narrative unveils them.

The way the characters are viewed from so many perspectives is a key element in making the novel so vivid, detailed and heartbreakingly believable. The characters in the novel are well – rounded and the major themes, though there are many, are easily grasped because of the complex structures and changing perspectives. The plot is a captivating ‘whodunit,’ but what is most interesting about the book are the characters. From Ishmael, a man who suffers from the scars of love and war, to the proud and beautiful Hatsue, the reader is presented with a spectrum of complex and realistic characters; some heroic, some villainous but most are somewhere in between.

At the centre of the novel is Ishmael Chambers, haunted by the trauma of his past. Guterson reveals that the local newspaperman once had a relationship with Hatsue. We learn that these two kept their love for each other secret in light of prevailing sentiments by other parents and there is a strong suggestion that both families do not approve of the interracial romance.

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The abundant use of flashbacks is evident in Guterson’s portrayal of Ishmael. Much is learned about Ishmael’s character not only through his thoughts and decisions throughout the court hearing, but also vivid memories of his childhood. The use of regular flashbacks is effective in Ishmael being presented sympathetically and the reader sees him as a man who has been through heartbreak, war, loss and who once was young and full of hope.

“Some times at night he would squeeze his eyes shut and imagine how it might be to marry her.”

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