MYOM Ch.1-4 question

Question One: The novel employs the voices of 3 main women: Jane, Akiko, Sei. What are some of the similarities and dissimilarities between the 3 characters? Are they fundamentally alike or unlike?

After reading the first four chapters, Jane, Akiko, and Sei Shonagon all seem to be similar women in different ways. This observation may not be very apparent from the beginning though. It only came across that way after reading more into the novel. Looking at these people, or the pictures of them you may have in your head, does not help with the similarities. They are all three very different women, but once delving deeper into each persons individual life story, it becomes aware what the similarities between these three women are.

Sei Shonagon is a Japanese writer who writes lists of things. For example, "Things that are Splendid", and "Things that Give a Clean Feeling." These lists help the reader understand Shonagon as a writer and a person. Especially the kind of person she was living in the time that she was. The lists were her way of rebelling in a way, letting people know much about her just by the short lists that do not take much space or time to write.

Jane is a documentary filmmaker who finally landed herself a job with the TV production My American Wife!, as the coordinator. Jane is inspired by Shonagon's work, and it helps her with her own field of work.

Akiko is a Japanese housewife who relates to Shonagon and her writing. Not only because they are both Japanese women, and have both experienced the life as a Japanese woman, but because Akiko feels Shonagon's writings help her. Akiko tries to make her own lists of things, but she finds it to be difficult and frustrating and looks down on herself.

The three women are not only alike and relate to each other because of Shonagon's writing, but they also similar in their own personal lives. Sei Shonagon was married and divorced by the time she was only twenty-four. Jane was also in a situation similar to Shonagon, where she was also married and divorced at a young age. Akiko is now three years into her own marriage with her husband "John", but things do not seem to be looking very well for them. So far, it seems as if Akiko's marriage could only result in divorce, just like Shonagon and Jane's.