How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Manjiro was afraid, but he said, "My father told me that a person should always put his heart in order before falling asleep. Then he will be unencumbered by fear." Manjiro tried to put his heart in order. He said a sutra—a prayer—for his ancestors, his family, his friends, and for himself. Then he waited for his heart to go back where it belonged instead of jumping all over inside his chest. (2.3.81)
Manjiro's the perfect son precisely because he takes his father's statements and treats them like hard-core principles that he should follow. But how faithful will he be to his father's teachings when he becomes "son" to Captain Whitfield?
Quote #2
Roused from his fever, Jusuke whispered, "As the saying goes: 'Entering the village, obey the village.'" (2.3.31)
What Jusuke says makes sense: If you're going into a new place, you better "obey the village" because, at the very least, it's the polite thing to do. But what's interesting is how Manjiro tries and yet doesn't stick to this principle. Or more to the point, how later, Captain Whitfield encourages Manjiro to do exactly the opposite of this saying…
Quote #3
As a Buddhist, Manjiro had learned that it was wrong to kill—not just people, but living creatures. Of course, Manjiro had killed plenty of fish. In a country like his, surrounded by water and filled with people who needed to eat, it was natural to eat fish. In some villages, whales were sometimes caught. But even a small fish deserved a prayer of gratitude. The fishermen he knew never took fish without remembering to leave grateful offerings at shrines for such purposes. (2.4.76)
This passage comes right after the scene when the sailors capture the whale. Manjiro can't believe how brutal the sailors are to the huge whale, and it's hard not to see his point. Manjiro's philosophy toward animals seems current and modern—you know, eco-friendly and all that. By comparison, the sailors do seem thoughtless about the majesty of the whale.