Infinitely different, humanity offers a myriad of conflicting perspectives on the issues that dominate our lives. Guterson’s novel, Snow Falling on Cedars (SFOC) explores the issues close to man’s heart which consistently recur as universally important in the human condition, across time, context and culture. Guterson presents the values of justice and truth triumphing over their antithesis: racism and prejudice. To explore these themes and values, Guterson uses the technique of the police procedural crime sub-genre to both explore issues fundamental to human nature and endorse humanistic values, as the genre serves to emphasise differing perspectives. He also uses the techniques of parallel characters who demonstrate conflicting or similar viewpoints which allows the responder to sympathise or critique values. Through the use of these techniques, Guterson effectively demonstrates how the desire for good and peace can triumph over the ravages of a torn society. Similarly/in contrast with SFOC is _____ by _____, which illustrates _____, and _____ through the use of _____, _____ and _____. Both SFOC and _____ effectively demonstrate the extremely complex nature of conflicting perspectives and values.
Guterson uses the crime genre to explore issues fundamental to human nature. The police procedural sub-genre allows the responder to see the conflict between justice and the prejudice that seeks to corrupt it. Through the courtroom scenes, we see aspects of the quintessential honest lawyer, Nels Gudmondssen. Guterson uses classical allusion within the police procedural to purvey Nels’ desire for justice: ‘Nels was blind in his left eye…the right seemed preternaturally observant.’ Much of his physical weaknesses are superseded by the sharpness of his mind. The author’s mentioning of the right eye serves to personify this intelligence. In