The Floating World: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Floating World: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the lives of key figures surrounding the protagonist, Olivia Ann. Olivia, the eldest of four children, serves as the narrator who reflects on her youth, capturing her experiences from her family's relocation across the country to pivotal moments such as her first job and sexual encounter. Central to her narrative is her grandmother, Obasan, who embodies both a source of torment and inspiration for Olivia. While Obasan is depicted as a complex character defying traditional gender stereotypes, her domineering presence leaves Olivia with a lingering guilt after her grandmother's death.
Laura, Olivia's mother, represents a woman caught in a web of unfulfilled desires, marrying out of necessity and grappling with her own sense of identity. Olivia's stepfather, Charlie-O, displays a facade of happiness, yet struggles with his own frustrations and the challenges of family dynamics. Olivia's romantic relationships, particularly with Tan and Andy, reflect her coming-of-age journey through love and heartbreak. The narrative is further enriched by the presence of Olivia's younger brothers, especially Walker, whose fragility evokes a protective instinct within the family. Together, these characters inhabit a "floating world," navigating the complexities of life, love, and familial ties.
The Floating World: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Cynthia Kadohata
First published: 1989
Genre: Novel
Locale: The United States
Plot: Bildungsroman
Time: The 1950's
Olivia Ann, the protagonist and narrator. Olivia is the oldest of four children. She tells about her cross-country adventures from the West to the South and about her teenage life in Gibson, Arkansas, where her family settles. She relates her adolescent view of her relatives and of the key events in her own life, including the death of her grandmother, her first job, and her first sexual encounter. In her episodic reminiscences, Olivia sketches out her life from the time she is twelve until she is a young adult, all the while living in a “floating world.”
Obasan, Olivia's grandmother. Obasan is a powerful figure in Olivia's life, both as a tormentor and as a role model. Resentful of Obasan's domineering and abusive nature, Olivia never refers to her by the affectionate term for grandmother, “Obachan,” but always by the more formal reference “Obasan.” In contrast to the stereotype of Japanese women as obedient and demure, Obasan has had three husbands and seven lovers. She feels compelled to relate the stories of her life and loves to Olivia, who inherits her grandmother's journals after her grandmother's death. Olivia, who ignores Obasan's pleas for help while she is dying, always carries the guilt with her that somehow she killed her grandmother.
Laura, Olivia's mother. At the age of seventeen, Laura becomes pregnant with Olivia. Because her lover, Jack, is married, Obasan arranges for Laura to marry Charlie-O. Married to a man she cares for but does not love, Laura often seems restless and lost in her “floating world.” During her marriage, she has an affair, but she decides to stay with her family.
Charles (Charlie-O) Osaka, Olivia's stepfather. Charlie-O takes his family across the country to Arkansas, where he invests in a garage business. Although an apparently happy man, Charlie-O feels frustrated and helpless in the face of much of what happens to him: his wife commits adultery, he gambles too much, and he cannot ensure that his children will be happy.
Tan, Olivia's first lover. Both Tan and Olivia work at a hatch-ery, and they become teenage lovers. They separate when Tan's father relocates to accept a job in Indiana. Olivia unsentimentally regards their love life as a “prodigious adventure.”
Andy, Olivia's second lover. Andy, a small-time criminal, is Olivia's lover in Los Angeles.
Walker, Peter, and Ben, Olivia's three younger brothers. Of the three, the family feels most protective of Walker. With his penchant for wandering, Walker seems the most fragile, the most likely to get “lost.”