1. Cultural Identity:
* The story revolves around the protagonist, Shirley, grappling with her Japanese heritage in a predominantly white American society.
* The haiku, a traditional form of Japanese poetry, becomes a symbol of her cultural identity, a connection to her Japanese ancestry that she feels she's losing.
* By learning haiku, Shirley embraces a piece of her heritage and finds a voice to express her own unique experiences.
2. Self-Discovery:
* Writing haiku forces Shirley to look inward and express her emotions in a concise and powerful way.
* The strict form of the haiku, with its syllable count and structure, challenges her to find meaning in everyday experiences and express them in a compressed format.
* This process of observation and expression allows Shirley to discover her own identity and voice, beyond the constraints of her cultural background.
3. A Symbol of Transformation:
* The haiku, originally associated with her Japanese grandmother, becomes a tool for Shirley's personal growth and transformation.
* Through writing haiku, she finds a way to express her frustrations and anxieties, connect with her own emotions, and ultimately find a sense of peace and belonging.
4. Themes of Loss and Memory:
* Haiku serves as a way for Shirley to grapple with the loss of her grandmother and the fading of her own cultural heritage.
* The short, evocative nature of haiku mirrors the fleeting nature of memory and the passing of time.
* Through her haiku, Shirley attempts to preserve the memory of her grandmother and the traditions that were once central to her life.
5. Connection to Nature:
* Haiku traditionally focuses on nature, and this theme is reflected in Shirley's haiku as she starts to observe and appreciate the natural world around her.
* This connection to nature provides her with a sense of grounding and peace amidst the turmoil of her cultural identity.
In essence, haiku in "Seventeen Syllable" is more than just a poetic form. It becomes a symbol of Shirley's journey of self-discovery, cultural awareness, and the importance of finding one's voice in a world that often tries to silence it.