My References

The Trumpet of the Swan

Title:            The Trumpet of the Swan

Author:        E.B. White

Publisher:   Harper & Row

Year of publication: 1970

White, E. B., & Frascino, E. (1970). The trumpet of the swan: Set. Harper & Row.

Synopsis

         A couple of Trumpeter Swans prepares to create their summer nesting site on a small island in the Red Rock Lakes at the start of spring, somewhere in the western Canadian wilderness. After the cygnets are born, their mother notices that one of them. Ironically, Louis is a Trumpeter swan but he lacks a voice. Louis's parents are both concerned about his future capacity to find a mate in the absence of a swan mating cry. Louis's father speaks to him privately and promises to assist his son in finding a means to communicate. However, neither of Louis's parents can assist him in overcoming his speech impediment. Louis can convey his wants to young Sam Beaver, a human kid who goes on an annual camping vacation to the swans' lakes.

        Sam takes Louis to school with him, where he learns to read and develops a sense of the larger human world. Louis does all he can to capture Serena's attention, even enrolling in school to learn to read and write. However, nothing appears to be working. Then his father stole a genuine brass trumpet from him. When Louis returns to the Lakes, he discovers that, despite his best efforts, he is still unable to communicate since the other swans cannot read. Louis falls in love with a swan named Serena, but he is unable to attract her attention owing to his inability to talk. He discovers his voice through learning to play the trumpet. Of course, he's a trumpeter swan, but he plays the trumpet and ends up going all across the States giving performances and earning money to repay the store owner for the trumpet.

        Louis works at a variety of well-known places including the swan boats in Boston, the zoo, and a nightclub in Philadelphia. Louis wishes to court a female swan named Serena along the route, but swans court using their voices. To entice her, he must use his phony voice. Serena, at last, fell in love with Louis. Serena, on the other hand, is in danger because the zookeeper wants to cut her flying feathers in order to keep her at the Philadelphia Zoo. Louis gains her release by deft bargaining in return for annual visits and a few nurtured cygnets. Louis and Serena return to Red Rock Lakes in the wilds of western Canada, where they settle happily married and with children. By the end of the story, they lived happily ever after.

My Reflection

        "Do not let an unnatural sadness settle over you, Louis. Swans must be cheerful, not sad; graceful, not awkward; brave, not cowardly. Remember that the world is full of youngsters who have some sort of handicap that they must overcome. You apparently have a speech defect. I am sure you will overcome it, in time. There may even be some slight advantage, at your age, in not being able to say anything. It compels you to be a good listener. The world is full of talkers, but it is rare to find anyone who listens. And I assure you that you can pick up more information when you are listening than when you are talking." - This was a creme de la creme quote of Louis’s father, from the book “The Trumpet of the Swan” by my beloved childhood author E.B. White. It is undeniable that we all have our own uphill struggles throughout our lifespan - still, some of us might find our own path to step ahead of those obstacles, yet some of us aren’t fortunate enough… 

          Louis is a very outstanding example of overcoming your Achilles heel. This book was first introduced to me by Ms. Sarah Lewke, my school’s librarian at that time, and that was game-changing for me. As a young boy at that time, reading this book in my school’s library, expecting to be surrounded by adorable talking animals like other of Mr. White’s books as in Charlotte's Webs and Stuart Little. They did talk in this very book, but it’s quite the contrary because what these animals wanted you to know is way deeper than it looks… Louis himself can’t even make a noise. 

         With the little sense of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling, but it happened with the mute cygnet this time, Louis found himself as a black sheep of his kind and treated his disabilities as his weakness, he tried so hard to overcome it, and by the help from his father and his best friend, Sam Beaver, he somehow managed to find his own way to communicate with others trumpeter swan a human. I respected the fact that Louis was coping with the hardship so well and he deserved all the “happily ever after”. I always told myself not to give up every time I questioned my own passion and my own path I chose. It’s quite hard for me to focus on what I want to do and what I must do. Tons of questions kept penetrating through my mind every time I was left alone and started to overthink. All I can do is to encourage myself and keep telling myself to never give up and go for it, for I believe that what is done can’t be undone and I will appreciate what the consequences are. Someday, I might find my own inner peace and it will be my turn to blow that trumpet of triumph. 

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Your Lie in April

Title           Your lie in April

Creator      Naoshi Arakawa

Studio        A-1 Studio

The released Year  2014

Synopsis

         Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso, based on the manga series of the same name, tells the tale of Kousei's rehabilitation as he finds that music is more than just playing each note flawlessly and that a single song may bring in the fresh spring air of April. Arima Kousei, a piano prodigy, topped the tournament, and all kid musicians recognized his name. However, after his mother, who was also his instructor, died, he had a mental breakdown while performing at a concert, which resulted in him no longer being able to hear the sound of his piano, despite the fact that his hearing was completely normal. Even after two years, Kousei hasn't touched the piano and sees the world in monochrome, without any flair or color. He was pleased to live his life with his good pals Tsubaki and Watari until one day, a girl altered everything. Miyazono Kaori is a beautiful, free-spirited violinist, and her playing style mirrors her personality.

         Kaori assists Kousei in returning to the music industry and demonstrating that it should be free and mold-breaking, as opposed to the structured and strict approach Kousei was used to. He altered the way he perceives the world of music, and Kaori assisted Kousei in breaking free from his mother's curse-like problems by altering his perspective towards his music and his mother. Later, they got the opportunity to play together. When Kaori did not show up for the concert, Kousei discovered that she had been ill as a result of a childhood illness.

          Kousei was depressed since he felt he was about to lose a loved one due to music (again). Kaori decided to have an operation the same day that Kousei was in the competition, unfortunately, Kaori didn’t make it to the end... Kaori left her letter to Kousei, the letter that told every feeling that she wanted to tell Kousei from the first time they met. Kousei was an inspiration for the young musicians of his age, including Kaori, she took violin lessons instead of piano because she wanted Kousei to be her accompanist and they might have a chance to play together. “I love you, I love you, I love you,” she said, but Kousei didn't have a chance to kiss her goodbye. “Spring will be here soon. Spring, the season I met you, is coming. A spring without you......is coming”.

My Reflection

 "I met the girl under full-bloomed cherry blooms, and my fate has begun to change"

           The Tragedy of Your Lie in April is not just about Kousei and Kaori's love. It's about how Kousei learned to be himself and not live just for the benefit of others. Kousei had never considered his future until Kaori came around. She assisted him in shifting his gaze away from the earth and onto the future. Throughout the episode, Saki and Kaori shared several characteristics.

            When things got tough, they even sank into a similar hole. But, while Saki attempted to prepare Kousei for life, Kaori showed him how to live. As a result, Kousei was able to draw Kaori out of her own grief and into a battle for her own life. Being an independent, freewill soul is pretty important for any human being, we can find that it’s quite hard to maintain individuality not just physically, but mentally as well. WE have to let go of our past struggles or whatever binds you from our own thoughts, you have to let go of that bad obsession to overcome your trauma. Kaori taught me to express and embrace myself, to go out into the world and live the life that only I could live. It's time to start painting my universe. Kaori surely had a significant role in this lesson. 

           I was in Germany this past month (September 2021), every single one of my new friends there in Oldenburg told me to live my life, we never know what will come next, or what might have happened], we have to take advantage of the time, the precious time that we have a little bit left on this mudball. Kousei’'s life and tribulations had a profound impact on me. While I couldn't relate to him on the piano (of course! I am a violinist), I could relate to him not knowing who he is. Kousei learned to appreciate and accept himself, which is something I also learned.

            I realized that life is amazing after watching this anime, the feeling that I also got from watching Disney’s Soul (2020) which is also my favorite one. We can seek happiness easily, for someone, happiness is just at your fingertip, eating some cheesy pizza, watching some bad movies, or spending some time picnicking under a tree is also happiness. If we look hard enough, the world we live in may be a lovely one. This was due to Kaori Miyazono's optimistic attitude, which made me realize how much I never looked at life positively. When I noticed how she constantly had a smile on her face, I decided to start smiling as well.