Thursday, April 4, 2019
I've Got You Under My Thumb?
Early Summer is the story of a society in which women are expected to marry before the age of 29, often in arranged marriages negotiated by their family, especially fathers and brothers. Yet at the same time, Noriko rejects the candidate chosen for her by her boss and family and -- on the spur of the moment -- agrees to marry a family friend. What is this movie saying about patriarchal structure, marriage, and women's liberation in the modern Japan of the 1950's?
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Early Summer depicts a traditional patriarchal society, however it shows strong women who are able to overcome this culture and move towards more modern female roles. The more traditional style is shown throughout the movie, especially with the way that Noriko’s family constantly asks her why she isn’t married and when she plans on getting married. They still believe that a woman’s role is to get married and take care of their family. Even Noriko’s friends ask her why she hasn’t gotten married yet while at lunch. Throughout the movie the female characters are all seen cooking and serving the men in their households to further show a patriarchal society. Despite this, female characters are able to go against the societal standards and make their own choices. In the end, Noriko doesn’t choose to marry the man that her family wants her to. Instead she independently makes the choice of who she truly wants to marry. This shows progress in a woman’s rights and abilities in a strict society. One of Noriko’s friends is also heard speaking up about not wanting to get married yet. Multiple women are shown to be moving towards are more independent lifestyle where they can pick who they want to marry and when they want to settle down for themselves. The movie also shows multiple young women working. They are able to make their own money and work outside of the house which is going against the past cultural norms of women staying home and taking care of the house and their families.
ReplyDeleteI think that Early Summer is making a statement that women should be in control of their own lives and marriage through Noriko's independence and her rejection of the suitor chosen for her. Noriko's marriage arrangements have been one of the central focuses throughout the entire movie, her friends continue to discuss the fact that she isn't married and her family and boss is working to find her a suitor. One of the first prominent moments of Noriko's independence was the café scene with Noriko and her friends. Two of her friends were discussing married life and happiness, that you don't know true happiness until you're married. Noriko's friend Aya is arguing that happiness in marriage is no different than the happiness felt from ordinary tasks that single people do; Noriko is agreeing and supporting Aya's argument. Noriko and Aya believe that the other two girls are dreamers to think that marriage would unlock a true happiness, that the happiness one feels is from what they do alone. The movie also uses Noriko's choice to marry a family friend when asked on the spot as another reason why women should have more control in their lives. During the scene where her family confronts Noriko about her decision to marry the family friend, Noriko's family continually asks her if she had really thought her choice through and to make sure she wouldn't regret her decision later. Noriko held her position saying that she would not have accepted the offer it she felt she would be unhappy. Her brother responds by saying that her getting married had been the main concern of the family, and questioned if she had considered that he had a child. Noriko's insistence that she knew what she felt and that she had thought her decision through shows her maturity and her self-confidence. Her pushing back against her family and her family's opinions and concerns shows that she has power over her own life; Noriko is a strong and independent woman who knows what she wants. The shift in Japanese society means that women have more freedom and more power. The idea that marriage should not be arranged, or that the family should not play matchmaker, is the basis of our current views on marriage. Interestingly, however, is the importance of both parties being happy in the marriage carried over from the traditional view and modern view of marriage. Regardless of the approach to marriage, happiness seems to be most important in Japanese society, and I think that Noriko choosing what will make her happiest represents the start of a more progressive Japan.
ReplyDeleteEarly Summer is a film that often utilizes subtlety to convey its themes—although characters are rarely explicit in oppressing women (e.g. through violence), it is clear that the Japan depicted in this film is one that views women as inferior to men. The most prominent example of this attitude is the societal expectation for women to marry early. Our protagonist, Noriko, is repeatedly pressured by her family with remarks such as “It’s about time she should be getting married.” What’s more, Noriko’s boss is the one who suggests a man to marry: Mr. Manabe. The submissive role of women in this film may be shocking to viewers like us, who hold that women should choose for themselves when to marry. Indeed, Noriko is stifled by the expectations that society places on her: she can never talk back to men for fear of being viewed as an improper woman. The viewer often sees her starting to disagree with her brother or boss, then shyly smiling and walking away. At the climax of the film, Noriko finally makes a stand for her own independence by choosing her own husband. Her actions reveal that the women of 1950’s Japan can start to have more independence in society—however, they can only rebel so much without being ostracized by their family and peers. While Noriko is able to choose who to marry, it is clear that she cannot choose to not marry at all. Koichi, her brother, was especially angry when Noriko revealed her decision to marry Kenkichi. If Noriko tried to tell him that she wanted to go unmarried, she could face serious consequences such as being cut out from the rest of her family. Still, the film establishes that this time period is heavily patriarchal. Considering this context, Noriko’s choosing of her own husband was an impactful action and a significant step toward women’s liberation.
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