1.”No one had claimed that the potter was handsome. Her mother had prepared her for that. But she was angry at the laughter. The servants were always forgetting their place, the insolent wretches. –Pg. 11
This sentence was taken from the very beginning of the book. It shows the Takiko’s personality at the young age of 11. At the time, Takiko was spoiled, and full of honor. She believed and held onto her samurai pride enthusiastically. Her attitude, and performance towards her family, and servants displays this. In the above sentence, it shows Takiko’s thought on how the servants should know their places. Meaning that she was very bound by her social roles, and honor.
2. “She would have gone then. She often told herself later that at the moment Mieko jumped, she herself had been given the courage to follow.” –Pg. 135
This sentence was taken from the part in the story where Takiko faced a most difficult question. To hold onto her pride by jumping off her emperor’s flaming boat to die with honor, or to be captured by the enemy with her love for Hideo. I think this sentence expresses Takiko’s feelings for Hideo very well. Not only is she abandoning her pride, but she is also choosing Hideo over her people and nation.
3. “She tried to picture his reaction. He was more than likely to object-he was too old-too poor-too ugly. Goro was a stubborn man, but in the end she could persuaded him-prepare his food, till his fields, fire his kiln, warm his bed, bear him a dozen beautiful children, play her koto and sing, and heal all the terrible wounds on his torn and battered soul”. –Pg.168
In many ways, “Of Nightingales That Weep” can be considered a coming of age book. Throughout the book, readers can follow Takiko as her thoughts, actions, and thinking all mature and change. In the beginning, Takiko was a stubborn spoiled, and pampered child. However, throughout the book, we are able to see Takiko go though hardships, heartbreaks, and realization to reality. One of the biggest wakeup calls for Takiko was when Hideo and Takiko had to go different paths in the end. It made Takiko finally get in touch with reality, and all the difficulties it holds. This sentence was taken from the part in the story when Takiko finally sees the best option for her life that has been in front of her eyes all along. When she realizes that she needed to settle down, and tend to her stepfather instead of a romance that was fantasied.
–Nina
Of Nightingales That Weep By: Katherin Paterson 