The Wash
&
And the Soul Shall Dance
Week #5

Those are pearls
that were his eyes.

William Shakespeare
The Tempest.


 

EXTRA...EXTRA
WORTH A LOOK
Philip Gotanda's Website

The WASH
  1. What is significant about Masi finally telling him about her date at camp?

  2. What was the significance of the kite?

  3. What is the significance of Nobu forgetting about Kiyoko's birthday?

  4. Gotanda says in his introductory notes that "there's a lot indirection in the conversation of the Japanese." He also mentions that he wanted to juxtapose quiet scenes with very explosive moments because the quiet scenes brought out the indirectness. What are some examples of this?

  5. What is significant about Masi taking up fishing?

  6. What other details point up the contrast between Nobu and Sadao?

  7. What is the significance of the fact that Nobu used to sing to his children?

  8. What's the significance of Nobu saying, "it's totally different (p. 67)?

  9. What's the significance of the title--THE WASH?

  10. What's the significance of the camps in Nobu's and Masi's background?

  11. What is significant about Sadao telling about not taking off his wedding ring?

  12. Explain how Gotanda gets a lot of mileage out of "coffee?"

  13. What is significant about the fact that Nobu went out of his way to return the money (p. 49)?

  14. What is the purpose of the two memory sequences (p. 50 and p. 52)

  15. In terms of the cross cultural experience, what is the point of this play?

AND THE SOUL SHALL DANCE:

  1. At the end of the play the "light slowly fades until only the image of Masako's face remains etched in the mind." What is the overall significance of this last moment of the play? Why the focus on this particular character, and what is the overall effect?

  2. What's the significance of the title--AND THE SOUL SHALL DANCE?

  3. Given what we have just been talking about, what is the irony of the following interchange (pp. 155-156)?
    Hana:
      Oh, I know. I was too. That was a long time ago. I'm sure things are improved now. Tell me about Japan...what is it like now? They say it's so changed...modern...
    Oka:
      Kiyoko come from the country...backwoods. Nothing changes much there from century to century.
    Hana:
      Ah! That's true. That's why I love Japan. And you wanted to leave? It's unbelievable. To come here!
    Oka:
      She always dreamed about it.

  4. Where else do we see wishing for a world where nothing changes?

  5. What's the significance of Murati and Oka joking about their henpecked neighbor (p. 136)?

  6. What other examples in the play dramatize the male-dominated mind set?

  7. The most obvious example of misogyny is where Oka beats his wife. How do the other characters react to this alleged behavior?

  8. What is unusual about Hana telling Oja he should be ashamed of himself for quarreling with his wife?

  9. What are the ramifications of the restaurant anecdote?

  10. Where are the moments in the play where we hope for a happier future? What is the most hopeful moment in the play?

  11. What is significant about Kiyoko's age?

  12. Is there any significance to the fact that there is a major concern about "manners" in the play?

  13. What is the significance of Oka explaining to Kiyoko that the Japanese can not own their land?

  14. How does Oka feel about his daughter? Is it a positive relationship?

  15. What is the overall point of the play from a cross cultural perspective?

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