Noh scene -- Silence as a form of discourse (Danping Long)

 When people response to others in Late Spring, sometimes they use facial expressions as their masks to conceal instead of to reveal their true intentions either consciously or unconsciously. We see both the uncle and the father laugh when they are judged by young ladies, as well as the aunt laughing when she promises to return a wallet which she already considers as her own. This duality is especially obvious in Noriko's case, who in her childishness tends to classify people, and consequently abhors any emotional entanglements that will make pickles strung together. Hence she blames people, including herself, for having unusual relationships, and she is not honest to her feelings, except in the rare circumstance of Noh theater, in where she can comtemplate on what she truly hankers, as everyone is watching the stage instead of her.

Noriko laughs when Hattori says he doesn't mind pickles "strung together,"  which obviously means that he doesn't mind to have Noriko as his jealous wife or lover; and Noriko laughs again when her father considers Hattori as a perfect husband for her, since it would be filthy for her to pursue an engaged man. But is this relationship truely uncanny? When Hattori invites Noriko to the concert, both of them only want to spend time with each other. Noriko rejects Hattori because accepetance will violet her position as a friend, but she is not settled with her decision; Although she rejects with a smile as bright as usual, when the concert starts, she wonders outside of the theater with a serious face, as Hattori insteads of inviting his fiancee, sitting alone inside with an identical serious look. They only reveal their regrets when no one is watching them. 

Similiarly, Noriko smiles politely to her stepmother-to-be, but when her stepmother-to-be and her father turn away from her, her smile vanishes, leaving the camera a wounded heart. In the silent moment of sadness, anger, and betral, Noriko realizes how lonely she is, although she is surrounded by the audiences. In the moment of looking down, Noriko finally has an honest conversation with herself and involuntarily faces her entanglements with her father and Hattori.

No one needs to love another human being when one is content with oneself. No one needs to invite a new family member when one's life is self-sufficent. Yet in the silent discourse during the Noh scene, Noriko realizes that her life is far from complete. Her refusal to admit non-traditional relationships in her life makes her blind to the potential cracks in her familial happiness, and consequently hinders her from a future of many possibilities. But once the possibility of an indecent life is laid open to her, she is no longer inside a self-sufficient bubble. From the Noh scene, Noriko learns to blunder.


Comments

  1. Krishnan VenkateshDecember 27, 2021 at 4:09 PM

    Very interesting. When we later find out that the widow was not in fact being considered by Sukichi as a possible bride, does this change the way we read Noriko's emotions here? -- namely, that she is responding to a fantasy planted by her aunt. I read her walking away from the concert differently -- as serious satisfaction, knowing that she did the right thing and that she doesn't need a relationship with Hattori.

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    1. Danping LongDecember 28, 2021 at 9:53 AM

      I see there is an interesting parallel as you suggest -- Noriko doesn't need Hattori, just like Shukichi doesn't need to remarry. But the mere fantasy is enough to break Noriko's life routine and forces her to accept a husband. What matters is that she sees the possibility that even if she rejects this widow, there will be another possible birde tomorrow, and she can't be her father's keeper forever. She may be doing the right thing rejecting Hattori. And her father may be doing the right thing staying single. But which way is the happiest? Shukichi genuinely expects Aya's future visits in the end, and he is so lonely at home. And we don't know how is Noriko doing once getting married. I hope she is satisfied in the end, but I feel sorry for her because life won't go the perfect simply way as she wishes in the beginning.

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