A Family Supper

Throughout the story, the narrator’s father is portrayed as complex character whose viewpoints are difficult to understand, especially regarding his description of Watanabe as a “man of principle” in the context of having murdered his family. The vague ending to the story raises the question of whether the narrator’s father makes the same choice as his former business partner. Consider these questions as you reflect on the text to draw a conclusion about the father’s beliefs, state of mind, and actions.

• How does the father portray Watanabe’s murder-suicide at various points in the story? 
• How does the father discuss the death of the narrator’s mother? 
• What is the father’s life like, based on descriptions of the house?
• How does the beginning of the story connect to the end?

Teaching Suggestion: The story’s ending is deliberately vague, but students can use examples from the text such as the father’s rationale for his wife’s suspected suicide and for Watanabe’s suicide. The father’s description of the supper being “just fish” chillingly recalls the story’s opening paragraphs and its description of agonizing death by fugu poisoning. Additionally, students can analyze the conversations between father and son about the narrator’s moving back to Japan.

Differentiation Suggestion: English language learners or students who benefit from additional assistance with whole-text tasks can be given a simplified prompt that asks whether they think the father poisoned his family.