In Heart of a Samurai, everything is about class. Even though Japan and America are totally different, the one thing they share is a hierarchical society (even if America is supposed to be class-less). But our main man Manjiro isn't exactly a revolutionary, bent on making everything more equal, so through his young eyes, we see how people come from and stay in different classes. But we also see how societies, even closed ones like Japan in the 19th century, can slowly change and become more open to movement between classes.
Questions About Society and Class
- How is America's way of dealing with class different from and similar to Japan's class structure?
- How does Manjiro's own position as a poor fisherman's son affect the way he deals with class?
- What prompts Japan to change its approach to class by the end of the book?
- Is it possible to have a classless society?
Chew on This
America in the 19th century was way more fluid and open in terms of class structure than Japan during the same time period.
America in the 19th century may seem to have less class issues than Japan, but the two countries' class systems are far more alike than different.