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Chapter 9
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Obasan, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Race, Identity, and Citizenship
History and Memory
Speech vs. Silence
Selflessness and Decorum
Summary
Analysis
Naomi looks at Obasan looking at the photo, and she thinks of her aunt as the archetypal old woman from many Japanese legends. She flashes back to Mother telling Naomi’s favorite story, the story of Momotaro. In the story, an elderly couple is blessed with a child born from a peach, whom they call Momotaro. Time passes, and Momotaro must leave his adopted parents. They help him pack and conceal their grief at his leaving so as not to burden him with their sadness. Once again alone, the couple waits, trusting that Momotaro will behave with honor. The adult Naomi reflects on a similar expectation of honorable behavior in her own childhood, which was so taken for granted that the possibility of misbehaving never occurred to her.
The story of Momotaro reflects the cultural values that shape Naomi’s life. Momotaro displays the honor and respect that is expected of Japanese children, while his adopted parents exemplify the model of self-sacrifice that Obasan subscribes to. Like Obasan, Momotaro’s parents hide their own feelings for the sake of their ward, since they view sharing sorrow as a burden rather than a potential means for mutual support.
Themes
