The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket

Written by Yasunari Kawabata

“The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket” is very philosophical, using a lot of euphemisms

and symbols suggested in its economic writing. A visual piece of literary work "The Grasshopper

and The Cricket". Rich in content yet concise in expression, Yasunari Kawabata leads us into a

whole new culture in which we have never experienced before. At first glance, it seems simple

enough, until you realize that it goes on a deeper level. The author also illustrates the love for

Japanese tradition by referring to that of making lanterns. The author’s use of euphemism

and symbolism is shown at once in the opening paragraphs. The narrator saw a group of children

on an insect chase with varicolored lanterns. This implies that there are different kinds of people.

As the narrator observes from a distance, he speaks from his own experience as though preparing

the children for a sight they may not see because of their youth. The narrator goes on to explain

that they may have had what they were looking for the whole time. “Even if you have the wit

to look by yourself in a bush away from the other children, there are not many bell crickets in the

world. Probably you will find a girl like a grasshopper whom you think is a bell cricket”.

According to the author's interpretation, these two creatures are different not only in their

outward appearances, but also, perhaps more importantly, in the meanings they represent. Bell

cricket stands for the precious things in life that are worth treasuring, whereas grasshoppers are

symbolic of most of the mediocre events in life that we often neglect.

The narrator’s words of wisdom are his warning to the children, not to take anything for

granted. If the children take certain situations for granted, they may miss a great opportunity that

was in front of them the whole time.

There were crimson, pink, indigo, green, purple, yellow and one that glowed with five colors at

once. This showed the different characteristics of the children carrying the lanterns. The ones

who were carrying red lanterns have the tendency to lean towards having intense emotions.

Contradicting it is pink, which shows gentle emotions. Yellow shows wisdom and intellect.

Green has been known for social stability and even greediness. Indigo is of dignity and high

aspirations and violet is of noble spiritual aspirations, honor, spirituality and self-esteem. While

the one carrying the lantern that glowed with five colors showed well - roundedness of Yasunari

Kawabata, the laureate of the 1968 Nobel Prize for Literature, has conveyed us via his

surrealistic and impressionist writing style, Although unfamiliar with the cultural practices, it's

not hard for us, the exotic audiences of this very indigenous literature reflecting distinctiveness

of the Japanese culture, to form the wondrous picture displaying the beauty of innocence of

childhood through expressions like "Then these wise child-aristists, cutting out cartons, coloring

each little window a different color, with circles and diamonds, red and green, made a single and

whole decorative pattern." and " Each day, with cardboard, paper, brush, scissors, pen-knife, and

glue, the children made new lanterns out of their hearts and minds. Look at my lantern! Be the

most unusually beautiful!" The scene is so animate and pure in which it is completely

independent of any kind of influences from the distorted human nature of the adults, that the

author, intolerable of disturbing its purity, is "wide-eyed" because he is afraid of missing any part

of its innocence and chooses to "loiter near them." Of course, this is not just a story of innocence;

it's far more significant than that. In the last part of the story, Yasunari Kawabata states that "And

finally, to your clouded, wounded heart, even a true bell cricket will seem like a grasshopper."

The grasshopper and the bell cricket, which is more important?

The experiences of growing up have often been accompanied by the distortion of our perception

toward the world in which our abilities to discern what is precious and what is not have been

deteriorated. Always preserving a crystal-clear heart that is as pure as that of the children's, as the

author may suggest, will enable us to differentiate preciousness from mediocrity in which

treasureable moments, events and experiences will forever be attained.

In his short story, “The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket,” Yasunari Kawabata shares

words of wisdom through the eyes of the narrator. Kawabata presents the narrator as someone

who is on the outside looking in. However, his words are a key element to the story because they

reflect valuable lessons that the children may need for future reference. The narrator wants to

save the children from heartache and disappointment; however he fails to realize that all children

must experience these emotions for themselves in order to become mature. As the narrator stares

into the lives of the children, it seems as though he is reliving his own life. His comments give

the impression that he once made wrong decisions based on immaturity and therefore the

children should not follow the same path. As a result, the narrator makes comments (unknown to

the children) that give a warning on what he sees from the outside.

Since the children display youth and ignorance, it should not make sense that the narrator

understands the children’s actions. Because of Fujio and Kiyoko’s age, the way of

handling the grasshopper and the bell cricket took a different perspective then the narrator. When

Fujio announced he found a grasshopper and asked who wanted it, he purposely waited for

Kiyoko to ask for it. "Oh, I thought. I felt slightly jealous of the boy, and sheepish. How silly of

me not to have understood his actions until now,” said the narrator? Fujio did that deliberately

to get a closer look at Kiyoko.

Through experience, the narrator has learned better and therefore there is no reason he would

understand Fujio’s actions, unless he experienced the same.

As the story continues, the audience recognizes there is a connection between the grasshopper

and the bell cricket. Compared to everyday life, some things are ordinary and there are some that

are special. Another one of the narrator’s warnings is introduced as the children are

concerned over the grasshopper and the bell cricket. The grasshopper represents something

ordinary while the bell cricket represents something that is special. Although the whole time

Fujio thought he had something ordinary, he soon discovers he had something quite special.

Although the narrator’s words were correct this was something Fujio needed to experience in

order to understand.

At the end of the story the narrator’s comments refer to the children setting themselves up for

failure, however gives a final warning on what to look out for. “And finally, to your clouded,

wounded heart, even a true bell cricket will seem like a grasshopper.

Should that day come, when it seems to you that the world is only full of grasshoppers, I will

think it a pity that you have no way to remember tonight’s play of light”.

The narrator’s words of wisdom are his warning to the children, not to take anything for

granted. If the children take certain situations for granted, they may miss a great opportunity that

was in front of them the whole time. Even though the narrator tries to save the children from

heartache, they must learn to live their life, and the only way to do that is to live and learn.