Snow Symbol in Snow Falling on Cedars

Snow—and more specifically, the snowstorm that unfolds over the course of Kabuo Miyamoto’s murder trial—represents all that is beyond the ability of humans to control. It also brings to light the distinction humans must make between the things they can (and should) change in life, and the things they have no ability to change. In other words, snow evokes the conflict between choice (things one can control) and chance (things that are beyond one’s control) that so many characters grapple with throughout the novel. Snow Falling on Cedars contains multiple references to the storm’s uncontrollable nature. One such reference comes from Judge Fielding’s final remark to the jury before they begin their deliberations: “The storm […] is beyond our control, but the outcome of this trial is not.” In his remark, Fielding reminds the jury that it’s the choices they make that will determine the outcome of Kabuo’s trial—not the random forces of the universe that governs the snowstorm. Throughout the novel, Guterson evokes snow or the snowstorm to differentiate between the things humans can control and the things they cannot, and the task of determining over which forces they have the ability to exercise control and agency.

Snow Quotes in Snow Falling on Cedars

The Snow Falling on Cedars quotes below all refer to the symbol of Snow. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

“I’m not talking about the whole universe,” cut in Hatsue. “I’m talking about people—the sheriff, that prosecutor, the judge, you. People who can do things because they run newspapers or arrest people or convict them or decide about their lives. People don’t have to be unfair, do they? That isn’t just part of things, when people are unfair to somebody.”

Related Characters: Hatsue Miyamoto (Hatsue Imada) (speaker), Ishmael Chambers, Kabuo Miyamoto, Hisao Imada

Related Symbols: Snow

Page Number and Citation: 326

Explanation and Analysis:

The citizens in the gallery were reminded of photographs they had seen of Japanese soldiers. The man before them was noble in appearance, and the shadows played across the planes of his face in a way that made their angles harden […]. He was, they decided, not like them at all, and the detached and aloof manner in which he watched the snowfall made this palpable and self-evident.

Related Characters: Kabuo Miyamoto, Alvin Hooks

Related Symbols: Snow, The Courtroom

Page Number and Citation: 412

Explanation and Analysis:

“The storm,” said the judge, “is beyond our control, but the outcome of this trial is not. The outcome of this trial is up to you now. You may adjourn and begin your deliberations.”

Related Characters: Judge Llewellyn Fielding (speaker), Kabuo Miyamoto

Related Symbols: Snow, The Courtroom

Page Number and Citation: 422

Explanation and Analysis:

“There are things in this universe that we cannot control, and then there are the things we can. Your task as you deliberate together on these proceedings is to ensure that you do nothing to yield to a universe in which things go awry by happenstance. Let fate, coincidence, and accident conspire; human beings must act on reason.”

Related Characters: Nels Gudmundsson (speaker), Kabuo Miyamoto

Related Symbols: Snow, The Courtroom

Page Number and Citation: 418

Explanation and Analysis:

Snow Symbol Timeline in Snow Falling on Cedars

The timeline below shows where the symbol Snow appears in Snow Falling on Cedars. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Snow falls outside the courthouse, and beyond it lies the town of Amity Harbor, which contains... (full context)

...an “anonymous” seat after the trial’s morning recess. Ishmael’s mind wanders and he considers the snow, recalling his fond early memories of beautiful winters. (full context)

Judge Lew Fielding calls for a recess and observes the snowfall. Everybody seems grateful for a break; the jurors’ faces “appear quiet and even faintly reverent.”... (full context)

The Psychological Impact of War Theme Icon

Back in the courtroom, Hatsue talks to her husband. She remarks on the snow. Kabuo notes that it reminds him of Manzanar, as snow usually does. The couple had... (full context)

In a memory, Hatsue recalls this first night together. As the snow fell outside on their wedding night, the couple made love. Kabuo smelled like earth to... (full context)

Outside Kabuo’s jail cell, it continues to snow. Ishmael Chambers walks outside and takes in the forces of nature that surround him, which... (full context)

Back in the courtroom, the snow continues to fall heavily on San Piedro. It covers all the roads, impacting the daily... (full context)

...now December 7, the morning of the second day of Kabuo’s trial. It’s freezing and snowing outside, but the courtroom is warm. Alvin Hooks calls Dr. Sterling Whitman to the stand.... (full context)

...outage around town; and go down to the coast guard station to “get a full storm report.” (full context)

Ishmael walks around town taking pictures of the snow’s impact on the town and townspeople. He captures a car accident. The heavy snowfall, in... (full context)

...are scattered along the sides of the road. Ishmael’s car, a DeSoto, is “a dubious snow car,” but Ishmael keeps it because it had been his father’s. (full context)

...Imadas’. The car has wiped out on the side of the road. Hisao Imada shovels snow out from beneath the car’s rear wheel. Ishmael knows that Hisao won’t accept his help,... (full context)

...the details of how their accident occurred. Ishmael listens sympathetically. He acknowledges the inconvenience the storm has created for the Imadas, but asks, “don’t you think the snow is beautiful?” Hisao... (full context)

...chief petty officer, […] Evan Powell.” Ishmael tells Powell he’s writing a story about the storm and would like to go through old logs to compare this storm’s intensity to past... (full context)

...Kabuo’s trial present among all the records and logs. He abandons his research for the storm story and turns instead to the records for September 15 and 16. In a series... (full context)

...Helen Chambers, is in the kitchen. He tells her of all the car accidents the snowstorm has caused. Helen Chambers is “the sort of country widow who lives alone quite capably.”... (full context)

The snowstorm continues outside the courtroom, beating against the windows. Kabuo hasn’t been able to sense the... (full context)

...like them at all,” citing “the detached and aloof manner in which he watched the snowfall” as sufficient proof of the matter. (full context)

...criminal case, the jury’s decision must be unanimous. Fielding then makes his closing remarks: “The storm […] is beyond our control, but the outcome of this trial is not.” He reminds... (full context)

...packs up his papers; Ed Soames leaves the courtroom open to the public, as the storm has given them no other warm place to go; Ishmael looks at his notes. (full context)

Ishmael walks outside and sees that the snow has stopped. He continues to walk and sees some cedars along the road. He notices... (full context)

Ishmael continues to look at the destruction the storm has wrought on the harbor and knows that he is different from other men because... (full context)

Ishmael drives through the snow to his mother’s house. The power is still out there. She’s reading in the kitchen... (full context)

Snow Falling on Cedars

David Guterson

Snow Symbol Analysis

Snow Quotes in Snow Falling on Cedars

Snow Symbol Timeline in Snow Falling on Cedars