Writing a truly meaningful, short story is difficult. In "Faithful Elephants: A True Story of Animals, People, and Wars" by Yukio Tsuchiya, however, the author successfully manages to do just that. "Faithful Elephants"is about three elephants that used to reside at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. Their names were John, Tonky and Wanly. The elephants lived at the zoo in a time of war, therefore bombs that could potentially destroy the cages were raining down. So they had to be executed. The author makes this story purposeful and worthwhile by using settings, symbols and word choice to effect the overall feeling of the story.
Initially, the author sets up multiple settings in which the depiction of the zoo effects or generates certain feelings. For instance, the first, present day setting brings a certain cheerful mood to the reader then slips into a peaceful, almost loving feel. "The cherry blossoms are in full bloom at the Ueno Zoo. Their petals are falling in the soft breeze and sparkling in the sun. Beneath the cherry trees, crowds of people are pushing to enter the zoo... Two elephants are outside performing their tricks for a lively audience... Not far from the cheerful square, there stands a tombstone. Not many notice this monument for the animals that have died at the Ueno Zoo. It is quiet and peaceful here, and the sun warms every corner." Clearly the scene transitions from a boisterous, entertained crowd to a quiet, calm scenario with only a monument. This would make a majority of people feel peaceful or at least content since that is the mood the settings exude. Another example is when the story begins and the author shifts to another, almost opposite setting. "Today,' he (the zoo keeper)said, 'there are three elephants in the zoo. But years ago, we had three different elephants here... At that time Japan was at war. Gradually, the war had become more severe. Bombs were dropped on Tokyo every day and night, Like falling rain." As you can see when the zoo keeper starts his tale, the reader is brought to this flashback scene where the surroundings are completely different then the present day. With bombs raining down and foreshadowed soon-to-be-dead elephants, the mood changed drastically from a cheerful zoo to a mid-war death zone full of despair.
Furthermore, The author also incorporates symbols throughout the story in order to effect the reader's understanding of the situation. For example, "The zoo keepers wanted so much to keep Tonky and Wanly alive that they thought of sending them to the zoo in Sendai, far north of Tokyo." The zoo in Sendai or the idea of sending the elephants there helps readers better understand the way the zoo keepers feel and the zoo itself stands as a symbol of hope. Another symbol is found at the death bed of the elephants. "At last, Tonky and Wanly could no longer move. They just lay on their sides, hardly able to see the white clouds floating in the sky over the zoo. However, their eyes appeared clearer and more beautiful than ever." Obviously, no one but the elephants could know what they could or couldn't see, therefore the lack of clouds in sight stood as a symbol for how the elephant were accepting of their fate; an untimely demise. This peaceful symbol despite the foreshadowed death changes the story's mood to one that is calming and almost reassuring.
Lastly, Tsuchiya uses specific word choice to make every action in the story meaningful. For instance, when the zoo keeper is introduced, his actions are observed and described in order to tell a little about the zoo keeper's relationship with the past animals of the zoo. "One day, an employee of the zoo, while tenderly polishing the stone (monument), told me a sad story of three elephants buried there." By using the word tenderly, the author lets you know that he did care for the animals that past away and he show remorse for having to watch them die slowly. The overall feeling that emanates from this one word is melancholy. It shows his love and compassion for the animals that once lived at the zoo while also letting you view the ashamed unsettled side of him in relation to this situation.
Overall, Yukio Tsuchiya uses meaningful settings, symbols, and words to convey certain feelings to the reader. In doing so, one might think of sacrifices, the damage of war or even the beauty of simple creatures. However the story may impact you, Tsuchiya's purposeful story does just that, leaves an impact.
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