Meaning of Communication: Analyzing Shouko Nishimiya

Summary

Shouko Nishimiya's character in "A Silent Voice" embodies the complexities of communication, personal growth, and the impact of social isolation, ultimately leading to self-acceptance and the desire to connect with others.

Abstract

"A Silent Voice," a critically acclaimed anime and manga series, delves into the intricate nature of communication through the protagonist Shouko Nishimiya, a deaf girl who faces social isolation and bullying. Despite her cheerful exterior, Shouko grapples with deep-seated guilt and a sense of being a burden, blaming herself for various misfortunes, including her family's dynamics and her own bullying. Her life takes a turn when Ishida Shoya, her former bully, learns sign language and attempts to mend their relationship. As Shouko and Ishida grow closer, Shouko's character evolves, and she begins to overcome her struggles, striving to communicate and connect with others. The narrative explores themes of forgiveness, suicide, and the importance of understanding and accepting human flaws, culminating in Shouko's journey from self-hatred to self-acceptance, highlighting the transformative power of genuine communication.

Opinions

The author holds "A Silent Voice" in high regard, considering it a masterpiece that intricately portrays the challenges of communication and the emotional depth of its characters.
Shouko Nishimiya is seen as the heart of the story, with her complex inner world contrasting her outward appearance and disability.
The lack of effective communication is a central issue in Shouko's life, leading to her sense of isolation and burdening others, which is a sentiment echoed by the author's analysis.
Ishida Shoya's transformation from bully to a bridge for Shouko's connection with the world is presented as a crucial element in Shouko's character development.
The author empathizes with Shouko's struggle to fit in and her desire to verbally express her love, despite her hearing impairment, as a relatable attempt to assert self-worth.
Shouko's journey is not just personal but also serves as a reflection of the broader human experience, emphasizing the need for understanding, care, and the consequences of failing to communicate effectively.
The author suggests that Shouko's development, while centered around her relationship with Ishida, also stands independently, showcasing her growth and resilience.
The narrative's conclusion, which includes Shouko's act of self-acceptance and her efforts to reconnect with others, is seen as a testament to the power of forgiveness and the importance of embracing one's own voice.

The Pearl of A Silent Voice

If you have sunk into the world of Anime, even by a little, A Silent Voice should be a name that you are familiar with. Written by Yoshitoki Ooima and directed by Naoko Yamada, both the Manga and the movie is nothing less than a Masterpiece. This series is really close to my heart. So, I have been trying to write something on this beauty of a show but writing about A Silent Voice isn’t necessarily easy. There is a lot to talk about and understand about the various aspect and qualities it holds. Therefore, I decided to focus on one small part of this story; the piece that is the focus of the puzzle, the character named Shouko Nishimiya.

On the surface, Shouko Nishimiya is a cheerful and energetic girl but with a physical disability. But on the inside, she is deep like an ocean and grey like the moon. Since her childhood, Shouko ran into many obstacles due to her being deaf. Some reached out their hand but the lack of communication was always there. Unlike a normal person, Shouko cannot perceive the emotions of others through their voice and tone. This created a sense of isolation in her; a sense of being a burden. Even though, she tried to befriend others and tried to communicate as much as she can. But her strive was constantly being distorted by Ishida Shoya, the protagonist who used to bully her. Then one day, the string snapped and her mother decided to transfer Shouko to another school. This incident forced Shouko to completely shut herself in.

But even after all that, Shouko never blamed Ishida but rather, she blamed herself. Her father leaving his family behind, Her best friend getting bullied, her getting out of school — she made herself to be responsible for all of these. That’s why she is quick to forgive others. She always bore a sentiment of guilt which got pent up with the flow of time; to the point that she considered suicide to be an option. Her brother Yuzuru tried to help by showing her photos of dead animals. But then again, the emotions didn’t get through.

At this state, Ishida came into her life again. This time, a bridge was formed. Shouko found a way to connect with others. She became the princess in a bottle and wished to be saved by Ishida. And as Ishida learnt sign language, it was easier to establish communication. And that’s how she enjoyed the next few days. Even though her mother objected, she visited many places, did fun things with Ishida. Their past didn’t matter anymore to her at this point. That’s why she started to fall in love with him. It is expected as he is the only one she is seen to be connecting with outside of her family.

With the help of Ishida, Nishimiya became more outgoing and was able to catch up with her old friends and classmates. Both Ishida and Shouko were growing past their social problems. In this phase, Shouko tried to confess her feelings to Ishida. I’d say the fact that she wishes to speak the words “I love you” rather than using her normal forms of communication is related to the recent diagnosis of her hearing. Even if she’s been mostly deaf all of her life, seeing the looks on her families faces as the doctor tells them that the condition is worsening can’t be easy to stomach. She’s still a young, developing teenager still, after all. In an effort to salvage some self-worth, she chooses to change her appearance and appeal to Shoya on his level verbally. Obviously, it’s a vain attempt and nobody judges her for something she can’t help, but as someone who dealt with a lot of childhood bullying, I’m sure it’s always in the back of her mind. Obviously, she was frustrated by the fact that it didn’t work.

Source: A Silent Voice (Manga and Anime)

This is where life started to bloom. She was accepted by most of the side casts as a friend. Her life started to show the colour of a red rose. She was becoming used to socialising, forgetting the idea of being a burden or a curse. But the flower was trampled by the bridge incident. Ishida’s new friends started to leave his side and Shouko blamed herself for this. Even though she tried to stay cheerful but she was burning on the inside. The fall of Ishida, her grandmothers' death brought her self-hatred back to life. She knew Ishida more than anyone. Her dreams show her how Ishida actually feels about his friends. So, Shouko took the initiative and decided to suicide. She thought if she ceased to exist then Ishida and the people around her will have a better life. They will finally be free from the burden named Shouko Nishimya.

She was shown to attempt suicide in front of fireworks which matched her life. Shouko lit up after meeting with Ishida. For a brief time, she was happy. but the next moment, everything fell down. Although, fortunately, she couldn’t actually commit suicide because Ishida helped her but got badly injured in the process. Nonetheless, this time Shouko didn’t fall apart. She had the character development she needed. She took the act of self-acceptance. It’s simple and could have been developed better, but it’s there. As I said, it’s centred around the injury of Ishida. Could it have been anyone? Maybe. I honestly can’t say her entire development revolves around him. She has her own independent character which shined brightly in the end.

Self-acceptance made her enable to take initiative in the conversation. She met up with every other character who broke their connection with Ishida and tried to convince them by asking for forgiveness. She sewed the threads that once snapped because of her. She not only accepted her flaws as her existence but also accepted others’ flaws. This is not actually just her. The whole story of A Silent Voice is about human flaws. It’s about not communicating, not understanding, not caring and what are the consequences of them. And these all aspects come together in the character of Shouko. Yes, she can’t express herself through words nor can she understand others’ verbal communication. But her inner voice is shaped like the cherry blossom; when it blooms, everyone has to admire it. The Shouko that started as someone being shattered and someone who consider herself a misfortune became a bridge that connects others. She tells the tale of ostracization, isolation, self-hatred, suicide, self-acceptance and forgiveness. Her story shows the necessity of communicating with everyone with being true to our existence. This is the shape of Shouko Noshimiya’s voice.

I hope you guys liked it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t talk about the manga part. But conceivably, I will make part two of this. Till then, stay safe and watch more Anime.