Calico’s Reviews > The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet > Status Update

"A he-rat . . . mounting his she-rat" I really hope this isn't part of the metafiction.

"The silent observer twists his head, like a hunting dog listening" Compare this with the dog that barks at nothing. Maybe a comment on art? Beginning to think the two cultures are the artist and the reader.

"As little able to evade the man's gaze as a book can, of its own volition, evade the scrutiny of a reader." Another comment on critical review, but with an inverted meaning.

To which Mitchell adds:"I call him 'Herpes' after how closely he sticks to me." It seems that Jacob likes the attention. After all, how does one acquire a condition like herpes?

"They'll be ordering your boy"—Junior Clerk Ponke Ouwehand appears from thin air—"to open up your turds to see what you shat." has a parallel on page 21:"is not"—Jacob's rib cage contracts—"Mr. Sekita to conduct the dissection" Seems a comment on critics.

Purity and corruption, birth and death, and authorship.

The first few sentences draw an analogy to Hiruko, the first son of Izanagi and Izanami, by comparing the Japanese to leeches. This occurs directly after a birth scene.

" . . . the shuddering boiled-pink despot howls at life" Is Mitchell referring to character or the book itself? Sensing a metafiction.