Quote
In Junzo Shono’s short story, “Evenings by the Pool,” the author writes, “But again, what is it that so frightens all these men? Is it neither a particular group of individuals, nor anything else you can really put your finger on. It haunts them even at home, in their time for resting and relaxing with their wives and children” (Shono, p.46).
Analysis
Junzo Shono hauntingly tells the story of a man’s defeat in “Evenings by the Pool.” Mr. Aoki has come to a period of his life where his mistakes have caught up with him. I think the excerpt above brilliantly encapsulates that. The story is told in what seem like flashbacks to his mistakes. We see the bars he went to, the woman he flirted with, the office he stole from, we get to see it all through the eyes of Aoki. In the beginning of the story, the reader gets a view of what the Aoki family looks like to a stranger–they’re the perfect example of what a family should be, but the author soon reveals the truth of the family behind closed doors.
The scene in which Aoki is detailing the setting of his office is difficult to ignore. The reader gets a moment of experience out of his life that is candid and, frankly, a little heart-breaking. With just a few simple lines, we can easily see the fear that exists in the men. Maybe it is in reference to the war that many of the men had lived through. Loss, pain, death, and toil still swarmed their minds, no doubt. Sure, Mr. Aoki made mistakes. He stole from the company he worked for, he had a seemingly unproductive affair, and lied to his wife many times, but there existed a fear in the minds of the men of the time. I think it should go without saying that this fear also persisted in the minds of the women, but for the sake of this story and its period in history, male pressures will be the focus.
The first line of the section asks a question, one that Aokie never really gives an answer for. By acknowledging it, he seems to be coming as close to an answer as he can, though. He seems to be saying, there’s something there. Something that is in the minds of every single man in the building. Something that persists even after time has passed. He goes on to say that the fear is not of anything specifically. Maybe it’s a collection of possible outcomes that these men fear.
“It haunts them even at home, in their time for resting and relaxing with their wives and children.” This part of the excerpt is probably the most important and telling detail of the entire story. Aoki seems to be confessing his true feelings. When he’s in the room with his wife telling her what’s on his mind, we get to see the truth that he has hidden for so long. The truth being that he feels the potential defeat hanging all around him.
The societal pressures of the time played a major role in Shono’s story. Both Aoki and his wife are moving through the consequences of his actions. Before this part in the story, I think Mrs. Aoki was very much so unhappy with her husband; she viewed him as an idiot, but after he confesses things to her–things that she had no idea about, I believe she starts to understand that she just wants him to be okay. I think she realizes she might have even caused a few issues in their marriage.
Historical Context
In order to really break down what is happening in this section, it is vital to know the time period in which it was written. Literature at this time in Japan seemed to be booming and more, and translations were really coming about.
The devastation of loss in Japan after the Second World War lasted for many years. Hunger swept the nation and many industries took a huge blow. The loss was not only felt by the higher-ups, but by all the families of the nation; everyone experienced a sort of deficit for many years after the end of the war. Even with the peace treaty that went into effect in 1952, many Japanese families still felt the ripples. (Japan-guid.com) Even though the main character, Aoki, in Shono’s short story was not a victim of losing his job from the war, it is clear that the looming state of their nation still played a major part in the lives of the Aoki family. Even though the nation was on the verge of Reconstruction, history was far from being forgotten. After reading the quote above, it is clear to see this reflected in the mentality of the men and women of the time.
Literature at the time
Based on the other stories that we’ve read in this class, it’s easy to see a similarity amongst some of them. In “Woman in the Dunes,” by Kōbō Abe, I gathered from it the significance of being on the outs of society and how that can negatively affect a person. Aoki also seems to experience this predicament in Shono’s story. He’s not only been fired from a job for embezzlement, but he’s been unfaithful to his wife. When he decides after ten days to begin a job search and abandon his “vacation,” he leaves his house at the time he would have if he still had a job, but wonders around town in hopes of not seeing anyone he might know. He doesn’t do this for his own benefit, I think he would like to stay at home where he might feel safest, but Aoki realizes that there isn’t really anywhere that he will be safe.
Conclusion
It is clear we don’t get much resolution with this story. Maybe Shono did that on purpose. I believe that he did. It further adds to the reality of many families in Japan at the time. Does he come home safely in the end? Will he find another job? Shono leaves these questions unanswered, which only adds to the feel of the piece.
Works Cited
“Post War History (since 1945).” Japanese History: Postwar, Japan-Guide.com, https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2124.html.
“Postwar Japanese Literature, A Brief Survey of the Field.” Teaching Postwar Japanese Fiction, MLA Commons, https://teachingpostwarjapanesefiction.mla.hcommons.org/about-this-volume/postwar-japanese-literature-a-brief-survey-of-the-field/.Shono, Junzo. “Evenings at the Pool.” Still Life. Translated from the Japanese and with an introduction by Wayne P. Lammers. Stone Bridge Press, 1992.
A.B. Lee Writes 