Although some people believe that the truth will set you free, it's a complicated business in Snow Falling on Cedars. Characters like Kabuo Miyamoto and Arthur Chambers seem to think there's more to the truth than just the facts. Why? Well, facts can be arranged and presented in different ways or interpreted as evidence for very different conclusions or "truths," depending on the audience listening to them. The jury provides us with a great example; that bunch all hears the same set of facts, but they don't all come to the same conclusion—in large part because their perceptions are deeply colored by prejudice.
Questions About Truth
- How does the novel distinguish "facts" from the "truth"? How are they potentially different entities? Why does it matter?
- Does the novel suggest that there is such a thing as objective truth? If so, how (and where) might it be found?
- How do Arthur Chambers and Ishmael's view of facts and the truth differ, and what do those differences say about each man's character?
Chew on This
In "Snow Falling on Cedars," there is always more to the truth than raw facts; an understanding of the individual emotions or social and interpersonal dynamics at play is absolutely crucial to understanding the spirit of an act or event, is the key to understanding the full truth behind it.
The novel suggests that facts are the only things you need to determine the "truth" behind an event or action; relying on anything else (like emotion) just opens you up to bias and prejudice.