Point of View

The Makioka Sisters is told primarily from the point of view of Sachiko, the second oldest sister with whom the two younger unmarried sisters live. Sachiko recognizes her responsibility to maintain proper appearances for a family of her standing and to follow traditional Japanese custom in family matters. As she is confronted with situations that challenge her traditional outlook, she struggles to cope with them while remaining faithful to tradition. Her first reaction when something like Taeko's defiance arises is to imagine how it will affect the reputation of the family and how she might best explain it to her older sister who, with her husband, has the traditional role of authority over all family matters.

Short passages of the novel temporarily take on the point of view of other characters when the action of the narrative takes place outside Sachiko's direct involvement. For example, when...