|
|
21. Yamiya
Bottom
As mentioned
previously, Bottom is dressed in Japanese military uniform
to signify that he is a "yamiya", a returned soldier from
WWII who has become a black marketeer. Many returned
soldiers became "yamiya", for clothes and food were rationed
and always in short supply from 1945-50. This is one of very
few instances where Deguchi departs from the text. Odashima
Yushi's translation of "Bottom the weaver" is replaced by
"Bottom the yamiya".
Similarly, Snug
(lion) is not "the joiner" but "Snug the cow breeder". He
wears 'typical' farming gear: gumboots, straw hat and a hand
towel round his neck with which to wipe off sweat and dirt.
Peter Quince, SL, appears to be a chemist shop assistant.
Some characters seem to inhabit their contextualisations
more fully than others.
|