Etta Heine

Examine the presentation and role of Etta Heine

In the novel ‘Snow Falling On Cedars’, Etta Heine is only a minor character but she plays an important role. We get insights into Etta’s character through her own flashbacks- and she is presented through her actions, body language, what she says and her appearance.
The judge observes inconfidence to Art,
‘You’ve got Etta Heine, who I won’t go into, but suffice it to say I don’t trust that woman. She’s hateful, Art; I don’t trust her’.
[Chapter 18 pg229]
The picture is gradually built up throughout chapters 9, 10 and 18.
A lot is revealed about Etta from her actions. She istantly objected to Zenhichi buying the land,
“ ‘We ain’t going to sell’, she said firmly. ‘Not in such times as these, when land is cheap’.”
[Chapter 9 102+103]
This shows that Etta was a money hungry woman, but wouldn’t sell to the Japanese no matter what, she hated them.
When Carl Juniour came home with a bamboo...