4
controversy. After the novel was published, Arthur Golden was sued by the geisha with whom he worked for defamation and breach of contract. According to the
plaintiff, the agreement was supposed to be total anonymity for the main character of his story because there is a silence code shared among the geisha community.
Thus, breaking the code can be considered as a serious offense. Once the plaintiffs name was printed in the book, she received numerous death threats and
requests to commit seppuku commit suicide by stabbing her own stomach in front of others because she made a fatal mistake and dishonoured her profession.
However, she opted to sue Golden for putting her name in the novel. The case is currently under litigation http:en.wikipedia.orgwikiMemoirs_of_a_Geisha
accessed on September 3, 2007. For the writer herself, the existence of on and its repayment called gimu is
considered as a part of the uniqueness of Japanese culture. Even though in several aspects they tied others’ life into unlimited devotion, their existence should be
preserved and respected.
B. Problem Formulation
Considering the background of the study that is mentioned above, the writer will discuss the following problems:
1. How are Nitta Sayuri’s character traits described in the novel? 2. How do Nitta Sayuri’s character traits influence the implementation of
gimu in her life as a geisha? PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
5
C. Objectives of the Study
Concerning the problems above, this study has two objectives. First, this study is going to describe Nitta Sayuri’s character traits in the novel. Second, this
study is going to reveal the influence of Nitta Sayuri’s character traits on the implementation of gimu.
D. Benefits of the Study
In making this thesis, the writer expects that the readers will be able to get a better cross-cultural understanding of Japanese culture, especially about the
concept of on and its repayment called gimu. Having a better cross-cultural understanding of other cultures not only means getting wiser in accepting other
cultures, but also adapting themselves to other cultures. The writer hopes that this thesis will be beneficial for other students who will become the future researchers
and do other studies related to the same topic or source, that is Memoirs of a Geisha.
E. Definition of Terms
The writer also presents the explanation of some terms used in the novel to avoid any misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Those terms are:
1. Memoir According to Abrams 15, a memoir means a biography which emphasizes the
people and events that the author knew or witnessed. In this study, a memoir is PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
6
defined as a work that is made based on one’s story that is related to events and people who are involved in those events. Yet, there are few things missing in the
story since the center character was in no position to observe the events or other people. Even though it is called a memoir, the novel Memoirs of a Geisha is not a
‘real’ memoir. It is an imaginary work that the author creates to make the readers feel that Nitta Sayuri’s story really happens and has been really told to Jacob
Haarhuis, Arnold Rusoff Professor of Japanese History, from New York University.
2. Geisha In her book, Perkins 111 said that geisha means women skilled in classical
dancing, singing, playing a banjo – like stringed instrument called the shamisen and doing witty conversation who entertain wealthy clients at banquets. Hence,
geisha is defined as “women of arts”. In this study, geisha are women who are skilful in many Japanese arts, such as: dancing, singing, playing shamisen and
doing witty conversations who entertain wealthy clients at banquets.
3. On As stated by Reischauer 152-153, on is a heavy burden that passively incurred
from the benevolence of parents, rulers, lords and close associates in somebody’s life. Benedict also has a similar definition. According to Benedict 99, “on is a
load, an indebtedness, a burden, which one carries as best one may.” On is a burden that is passively received from all contacts, no matter their status and class
7
origin in the society, which gives one an uncomfortable sense of inferiority. In this study, on is a heavy burden in somebody’s life that passively incurred from
the associates’ benevolence, no matter their status and class origin in the society, which gives someone an uncomfortable sense of inferiority
. 4. Gimu
According to Reischauer 152-153, gimu, which is called giri in pre-modern times, is defined as a sense of duty that is caused by the existence of on and has to
be done by doing unlimited devotion. Then, Benedict 115 stated that “gimu is the limitless repayments on on, both in amount and in duration of repayments.” In
this study, gimu is a sense of duty to repay the favor of on; in which its repayments of on are limitless both in amount and in duration and has to be done
by doing unlimited devotion .
5. Characters Abrams 22 stated that characters are people presented in a narrative or dramatic
work, who have their own traits that make them different from others. Their traits can be seen from their dialogues and actions in the narrative or dramatic work. In
this study, characters are people presented in narrative and dramatic work, whose traits make them different from others.
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
