An Enlightening Analysis of The Willow and
the Storm By Mitchell Masuda
Mitchell Masuda, the author of The Willow and the
Storm utilizes a combination of diction,
imagery and his own personal experiences to express the importance of patience
as a virtue. Masuda chooses specific words to create a sense of humor that
maintains the readers interest. However, the words also augment the somber and
reflective tone found in the last half of the short story. The addition of
events that were based on occurrences in Masuda’s life makes the story more
authentic and believable. These events are made realistic by Masuda’s use of
visual imagery. Each literary element contributes to the context of the story
that concludes with the maxim embodied in a quote.
In
the third paragraph of The Willow and the Storm, Masuda utilizes uncommon and amusing words and
phrases to lighten the atmosphere while doing the opposite in the fifth
paragraph, conveying the somber tone. In the last paragraph, Masuda also uses
particular words to express the feeling of contemplation enjoyed by the
narrator. In the third paragraph, the narrator mentions that his breakfast was
not settling down, and situates that tragedy on the same degree as a class IV
rapid. That comparison is humorous because a mere stomachache would not be near
as serious as a dangerous whitewater rapid. Masuda also emphasizes the next
bathroom as a "bright blue porta-potty." The fact that the narrator
is looking forwards to this is very entertaining. In the fifth paragraph, the
combination of "tremendous" and "dash" in the same sentence
emphasizes the power of the river as well as the hazardous situation that the
narrator enters. In the next sentence, "submerged" is an active
participle and again demonstrates the power of the river. There are several
words in the last paragraph that accentuate the reflective tone. The word
"trial" in the second sentence brings out the fact that the narrator
underwent an ordeal, not a mere accident. "Yielding" in the fourth
sentence allows the reader to realize that the narrator did not struggle, but
surrendered as much of his power as was necessary. The most important
individual word in the last paragraph is "wisteria." It alludes to
Masuda’s religion, Buddhism, in which the wisteria crest hung over Buddha, or
the enlightened one.
Aside
from the allusion in the last paragraph, Masuda intermingles some of his own
memories with fiction to allow readers to relate to the story. The incident
mentioned in the story is actually a dramatization of one of Masuda’s
whitewater rafting experiences. Masuda uses that incident in conjunction with
his many backpacking trips to produce humor with regards to needing a restroom.
He is not a stranger to the predicament of waiting for hours or using a bush.
The finale of the story is most likely taken from Masuda’s passion for running
and the euphoric feeling that is gained from finishing a race. While racing,
Masuda frequently reflects on past experiences and more often that not grasps a
new conclusion at the finish line.
There
are many instances when Masuda uses an image to augment the current setting.
The first image is in the third paragraph when the "deep, ominous chuckle"
of a large rapid is heard. Also in the paragraph, Brad’s scream is described as
"bloodcurdling" and "hair-raising." In the fifth paragraph,
the sunlight is depicted as being "brilliant and golden." The river
is also described as having "roiling waters" as well as "blessed
calm water." The last image in the story is of a willow bending over in a
storm. It allows itself to be bent very far and in doing so prevents itself
from wasting energy, instead just barely holding on.
This
image and the quote that corresponds to it contain the lesson encompassed in
the story. In The Willow and the Storm author Mitchell Masuda employs many different techniques and literary
elements to intensify the story before its climax. Each element combines with
another to lead to the significance of the story. Patience is a virtue that can
overcome any obstacle. Those who have patience are those who are enlightened.