The Life of a Geisha: Love and Slavery

I really loved how this book came together at the end with Sayuri and the Chairman.  Sayuri had no idea of the Chairman's feelings for her and that he was the one that enabled her to become a geisha. I'm sure it was the same for the Chairman that he had no idea how much of an impact he made on Sayuri just by giving her a handkerchief and a bit of money. It was really their destinies that were linked together because of their chance encounter on the street.  I do feel bad for Nobu because he got caught in the middle.  The Chairman and Sayuri  could have been together at the beginning of the novel had it not been for Nobu's feelings for Sayuri.  I am glad that Sayuri actually got to be with the Chairman and to be with who she loved.  It also enabled her to quit being a geisha.

This book revealed the true life of a geisha which I really knew nothing about before.  Parts of the life are glamorous such as the parties and performances.  But overall, it is not a life I would want and for women of that time, they really didn't have a choice if given the opportunity to be a geisha.  It was better than being a prostitute or doing hard labor, but I think being a geisha is like being a slave or in bondage until you become the "mother" of your house.  You can't have a real relationship with a man.  The closest you can get is having a danna which I feel is another form of slavery for a geisha.  This man basically can use you for anything because he's paying for it.

Also with being a geisha, I was surprised how much rivalry goes on.  I think this is shown best between Hatsumomo and Mameha.  I was really surprised at how aggressive Mameha got in trying to destroy Hatsumomo and Sayuri seemed really uncomfortable with the situation.  I think Sayuri was trying to avoid becoming like Hatsumomo.  In the end, Pumpkin became like Hatsumomo.  How Pumpkin was before and after the war really surprised me.  She was like two different people. Before she was quiet and after she was loud and crude.  Of course, she betrayed Sayuri by bringing the Chairman instead of Nobu to be caught with the Minister.  Maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised because Pumpkin did learn from Hatsumomo.

I think Arthur Golden did a good job writing from a woman's perspective and in creating a fictional account of the life of a geisha.