How far can Ishmael be considered the hero of Snow Falling on cedars?

Ishmael Chambers may not be a typical hero. He is not physically heroic as for example, Carl Heine was seen as an “extraordinary specimen of manhood” by his fellow islanders. However, it remains to be discussed how far Ishmael can be perceived as the literary hero of the novel. There are reasons why Ishmael could be seen as the hero, and there are also arguments against this statement.

As the reader gets a clear insight into Ishmael’s thoughts and feelings, through reading about his love of Hatsue and his war experiences, the reader becomes more emotionally involved with Ishmael. He/she therefore sees how sensitive, moralistic and “decent” he is. As the novel lacks a ‘true’ hero, the reader may choose to interpret Ishmael as the hero due to his decency and the personal insight we get from reading about his past.

When Ishmael Chambers comes across a piece of evidence that may help Kabuo he goes through an internal debate throughout the trial whether to reveal the t...