In Memoirs of a Geisha, a central theme is endurance; to
survive one must overcome obstacles and hard times. Throughout the novel, this
theme is seen through the evolution of Chiyo’s life; from a small girl in a
poor fishing village, a servant, and then to a Geisha. For example, Chiyo and
her sister were sold by her parents so that her parents could survive. “Then
suddenly I realized we weren’t headed towards the direction of Mr. Tanaka’s
home at all…Mr. Tanaka led us back up the platform to where the farmers and old
women were gathering up their things. Soon the train came to a stop before us…I
couldn’t trust what I heard. It might have been: We’ll meet again!” (Golden
33). “Your family sold you to this house, you live here now. If you impress
mother, and do exactly as she says, she will send you to school become a
geisha” (Golden 85). This quote is significant to the theme because it is
the first time that Sayuri comes to terms with the fact that she has no other
option than to live at the Okiya and become a Geisha. Even though Sayuri will
never see her sister again, surviving is more important. “We don't become
Geisha to pursue our own destinies. We become Geisha because we have no choice”
(Golden 360). Also the man Sayuri loves has to forgo his love for her and let
her be with his business partner so his company will survive. “There’s no
reason you would know this, but I owe Nobu a great debt. When Iwamura Electric
was still quite young, we had a terrible problem with cash flow and very nearly
went out of business…I would have lost my company. How do you repay man for
something like that?...the moment I became aware of his affection for you, that
I would keep my interest in you hidden so that Nobu could have you” (Golden
415). Although Sayuri went through many hardships and obstacles, she endures
life found a way to survive through becoming a Geisha.
Central Theme: humanity will endure all
Throughout the novel, a thematic statement that best exemplifies the story is that humanity will endure and flower under any circumstances. Golden uses Chiyo's life as a symbol of this; constantly tested through hardships and obstacles and by the end of the book, Sayuri becomes a beautiful Geisha and gets the man she has always loved.