Tradition proves to be resilient within modernizing cultures. Aissatou and Mawdo enter a marriage based upon love; Fumiko herself represents modernization, and she and Kikuji swear to stop drinking tea. Regardless of their prior intentions, both sets of characters end up reverting to traditions. Mawdo takes a second wife, even if he says it is only to appease his mother. Kawabata alludes that Fumiko kills herself, and the only person Kikuji has left is the person who connects him strongly to the tea ceremony. However, both polygamy and tea are more than just aspects to individual lives. They are traditions which the characters are surrounded by and raised within, because they are practiced by a whole people. To this end, traditions are traditions because of what a deep part of culture they are, and so it is not surprising when characters turn back to them. It consistently proves difficult to release things that, because they have been around for so long, are just natural. It is hard for humans to deviate from natural routines, because humans are creatures of habit.
Word Count: 1494. Boom.
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