How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
"But others say," the messenger continued, "that Lord Yamauchi wants him to teach young samurai the barbarian's language." The man lowered his voice to a whisper. "They even say that he will be a samurai himself." He clucked his tongue. "Imagine—a simple fisherman becoming a samurai!" (5.41.15)
Now that's a serious change in a closed society like Japan. Manjiro is part of a major sea change: Japan begins to engage with the idea of a meritocracy. Going from a fisherman to a samurai? That's pretty amazing.