Snow Country-Wasted Effort free essay sample

In the novel, Snow Country by Washburn Sabbath, the theme of wasted effort threads its way through the text in different variations. The main character, Samurai uses multiple instances to label actions as wasted effort. Usually after describing someones intentions or actions, Samurai trails off into personal thoughts and removes himself from the physical world and creates his own reality. Samurai is apathetic towards people who complete tasks without any purpose, but subconsciously tries to beautify their wasted efforts. Ironically, Samurais relationships grow more intimate with every wasted effort. The term wasted effort appears early in the novel. Oakum confesses to Samurai that she writes down every author and character relationship from every book she has read. Samurai feels that Oakums actions are a complete waste of effort and Oakum agrees. The following quote sets the tone, a complete waste of effort. She answered brightly, as though the admission meant little to her. We will write a custom essay sample on Snow CountryWasted Effort or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She gazed solemnly at Samurai, however, (Sabbath 41). Oakum understands that her efforts are wasted but shows no particular care. She writes for herself, not for an assignment of any sort. In essence, her efforts are not wasted at all. She has a personal gain from her wasted efforts. Her wasted efforts make her into the person Samurai has grown to love. The following quote gives the reader information about Samurai and Oakums relationship, But drawn to her at that moment, he felt like the voice of rain flow over. He knew well enough that for her it was in face no waste of effort, but somehow, the final determination that it was had the effect of distilling and purifying the womens existence, (Sabbath 41). The very wasted effort that Samurai felt no feeling toward, caused him to love Oakum. He beautified her wasted efforts and allowed her to regain innocence. Snow Country is a love story. Therefore, it is appropriate that the author threads the wasted effort theme into the intimate relationships. Oakum is a geisha and uses the earnings for Yogis doctors bills. Oakum does this because of promise and love. Samurai questions whether her efforts are wasted. Samurais thoughts are displayed in the following quote, For Oakum to guard her promise to the end, even to sell herself to pay doctors bulls”what was it if not wasted effort? (Sabbath 61). Samurai finds Oakums wasted efforts honorable. He knows that in the reality of things, no matter how much money is paid for treatment, the likelihood of recovery is slim. In Samurais distant non-reality her efforts are those of a hero. He wears a fade and shows little to no emotion towards Oakums wasted time, energy and efforts but they warm him inside. His love for her only grows and develops furthermore at this point in the novel. Towards the end of the story, Samurais feelings toward wasted effort grow from apathy to pity. Samurai is dreaded by his affair. He now realizes that it was pointless and a wasted effort. Oakum was going to return to her life as a geisha and he would return to his life as a husband. The quote lets the reader into his thoughts, He was conscious of an emptiness that made him see Oakums life as beautiful but wasted, even though himself the object of her love, and yet the womens existence himself, (Sabbath 128). Samurais dream reality has finally disappeared. The reader can infer that not only did he beautify wasted efforts in his mind but he had come to the snow country to escape. Oakum had filled his emptiness and the void that forced him into a beautiful reality, and replaced with pity.