Describe each person and the significance of his/her element: a. Sayuri (water), b. Satsu (wood), c. Pumpkin (wood to fire), d. Hatsumomo (fire), e. Mameha (earth), f. Chairman (earth) and g. Nobu (metal).

Answer and Explanation:

This question refers to the characters in the novel “Memoirs of a Geisha”, by Arthur Golden.

a. Sayuri

The main character Sayuri’s element is water. Just like water, Sayuri is adaptable, flexible, but also incredibly strong. She has the malleability to adjust to new situations, just like she did when she was sold as a child to a Geisha house. Once she understood there was no escaping this new condition, she quickly learned how to navigate it. But she also has the strength of water coming through the gates of a dam. She faces her enemy, Hatsumomo, bravely, cunningly.

b. Satsu

Satsu is Sayuri’s sister. Instead of being sold to a Geisha House, Satsu was sold to a brothel. Unlike Sayuri, Satsu’s element is wood. She does not adapt as well to new situations. She finds a way to go back home, unfortunately leaving her sister behind. Home and that which is familiar seems to be crucial for Satsu.

c. Pumpkin

Pumpkin is Sayuri’s friend when they are kids, but ends up becoming her enemy once they grow up. They are raised to compete against each other as Geishas. Pumpkin’s teacher is Hatsumomo, whose explosive personality feeds off of Pumpkin’s feeble one. Pumpkin is wood to Hatsumomo’s fire, obeying and fearing her deeply. Once Hatsumomo is gone, part of her hatred for Sayuri remains in Pumpkin’s heart.

d. Hatsumomo

Hatsumomo is Sayuri’s foil, her complete opposite. Sayuri is water, Hatsumomo is fire. She does not adapt, but destroys whatever obstacles are in her way. However, fire’s life is shorter than water’s. Once there is no more fuel, fire is extinguished. Once water is poured over it, fire is gone. Sayuri’s strength ends up being stronger than Hatsumomo’s. She leaves the Geisha house for good.

e. Mameha

Mameha is Sayuri’s teacher, and her element is earth. She is a realistic, patient woman, whose wisdom is of great value to young and impulsive Sayuri. Mameha understands how the world functions, how society works, what is expected of her. She does not try the impossible, but she can see the cracks through which she can get what she wants. She also curbs her ambition, accepting her role more easily than Sayuri.

f. Chairman

Just like Mameha, the Chairman’s element is earth. They have a lot in common. The chairman is also a realistic man. And his ambitions too are curbed by his acceptance of reality. He is Sayuri’s love interest and, even though he is also in love with her, he will gladly step aside when he realizes his friend Nobu seems to like Sayuri.

g. Nobu

Nobu is hard and cold like his element, metal. He is a survivor, a hero, someone to whom the Chairman owes his life. His personality, however, is much less likable than the Chairman’s. Nobu is impatient, demanding, rude, straightforward. It is Sayuri’s flexibility and intelligence that ends up attracting him to her.

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