"Say It With Flowers" by Toshio Mori

Revision notes

Summary:
In "Say It With Flowers" by Toshio Mori, the story revolves around a flower shop named Morning-Glory
Flower Shop. The narrator works there as a delivery boy and observes the arrival of a new employee, Teruo,
who is an unusual choice for a flower shop clerk due to his appearance and lack of knowledge about flowers.
The boss, Mr. Sasaki, hires Teruo to prepare for the upcoming busy season.
Tommy, the lead clerk, takes it upon himself to train Teruo in the art of floristry. Teruo is eager to learn and
quickly becomes proficient in the business. However, he struggles with telling customers that the flowers are
fresh when they are not. Tommy and the narrator advise him to play along and emphasize the freshness to
maintain the shop's reputation.
As Teruo grows into a successful salesclerk, he still has trouble convincing customers that the flowers are
fresh. This dilemma comes to a head when Mr. Sasaki returns from a trip and catches Teruo selling old
flowers to a customer. Mr. Sasaki reprimands Teruo but doesn't fire him.
Teruo's behavior takes an unexpected turn. He begins giving away fresh flowers to customers and acting
generously. His actions baffle both his colleagues and Mr. Sasaki. Teruo even refuses his wages and is
eventually fired for his unconventional behavior, leaving the flower shop with a cheerful and carefree
attitude.

Key Themes:
• Integrity vs. Pragmatism: Teruo's internal struggle between honesty and pragmatism forms a
central theme. He feels guilty about selling old flowers but faces pressure to do so in order to keep his
job.
• Business Ethics: The story explores the ethical challenges of running a business, such as
maintaining a reputation for fresh flowers while dealing with the practicalities of aging inventory.
• Generosity and Kindness: Teruo's acts of generosity and kindness, despite their impact on the
shop's finances, emphasize the value of compassion and making people happy.
• Individuality: Teruo's unique approach to sales challenges the conventional methods of the flower
shop and highlights the importance of individuality and authenticity.

Character Development:
• Teruo: Starts as a novice in the flower business, eager to learn and willing to compromise his
principles for the job. Gradually, he becomes confident and generous, ultimately embracing his own
values and leaving the shop on his terms.
• Mr. Sasaki: The shop owner initially hires Teruo and is concerned about maintaining business but
later fires him due to his unorthodox actions.
• Tommy: The experienced clerk who mentors Teruo, trying to strike a balance between selling old
flowers and maintaining the shop's reputation.

Conflict and Resolution:

The story revolves around Teruo's internal conflict and his struggle to reconcile his honesty with the
demands of his job. Ultimately, Teruo resolves this conflict by embracing his own values and leaving the
flower shop with a sense of happiness and freedom.

Conclusion:
"Say It With Flowers" explores the tension between business pragmatism and personal integrity through the
character of Teruo. His unconventional actions challenge the norms of the flower shop, leading to his
dismissal but also highlighting the importance of individuality and kindness in the business world.
 A Journey of Self-Discovery:
Comparing Teruo and the Speaker in "The Journey"

"The Journey" by Mary Oliver and "Say It With Flowers" by Toshio Mori both explore the themes of self-
discovery, individuality, and the courage to follow one's inner voice.

Compare and contrast the characters of Teruo from "Say It With Flowers" and the unnamed speaker from
"The Journey," highlighting the ways in which they are similar and different. Give examples from both texts
to show how these characters navigate their paths of personal growth and self-realization.

Similarities:

Inner Struggle and Transformation:

• Both Teruo and the speaker experience inner conflicts and transformations in their
respective stories.
• Teruo initially grapples with the dilemma of selling old flowers and feeling guilty about it.
However, as the story progresses, he transforms into a compassionate and generous
individual who prioritizes kindness over profit. Similarly, the speaker in "The Journey"
undergoes an internal struggle when faced with the voices of those who try to dissuade them
from following their own path. In both cases, these characters evolve from a state of inner
turmoil to one of self-assuredness.
• Example from "Say It With Flowers": Teruo's initial reluctance to sell old flowers contrasts
with his later decision to give fresh flowers away to customers, emphasizing his personal
transformation and growth.
• Example from "The Journey": The speaker's journey begins with the recognition of an inner
calling, a moment when they "finally knew what [they] had to do." This realization sets them
on a path of transformation, where they abandon external voices and embrace their own.

Courage to Follow Their Own Path:

• Teruo and the speaker both demonstrate remarkable courage in choosing to follow their own
paths, even in the face of societal pressures and expectations.
• Teruo, despite being employed at a flower shop with established practices, decides to
prioritize his values of honesty and kindness over conforming to business norms. His acts of
generosity, like giving fresh flowers away, highlight his determination to chart his own
course.
• Similarly, the speaker in "The Journey" defies the voices of those around them who advise
against their chosen path. They embark on a journey of self-discovery, boldly going where
their inner voice guides them.
• Example from "Say It With Flowers": Teruo's decision to give away fresh flowers to
customers, even at the risk of losing his job, showcases his courage to act in alignment with
his principles.
• Example from "The Journey": The speaker's unwavering determination to heed their own
calling is evident when they say, "But you didn't stop. / You knew what you had to do.”

Embracing Individual Voice:

• Both Teruo and the speaker emphasize the importance of embracing their individual voices
and values.
• Teruo, as he develops into a unique and compassionate salesclerk, prioritizes his own
judgment over external pressures. His actions reflect his belief in the value of authentic and
genuine interactions with customers.
 • The speaker in "The Journey" evolves from being influenced by the voices of others to
recognizing and listening to their own inner voice, which ultimately guides their decisions
and actions.
• Example from "Say It With Flowers": Teruo's final act of generosity, giving away flowers to
a customer simply because he liked her, highlights his commitment to authenticity and
following his own instincts.
• Example from "The Journey": The speaker's journey is a testament to the power of
embracing one's individual voice and choosing to save "the only life that [they] could save."

Differences:
Character Background and Setting:
• Teruo is a character with a specific background, working in a flower shop, and his story is
set in a workplace environment. In contrast, the speaker in "The Journey" remains unnamed,
allowing readers to project themselves onto the character and making the story more
universally relatable.
Narrative Style and Length:
• "Say It With Flowers" is a short story with a linear narrative structure, characters, and
dialogue. "The Journey," on the other hand, is a poem with a lyrical and abstract style, using
metaphorical language to convey its message.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, both Teruo from "Say It With Flowers" and the unnamed speaker in "The Journey" undergo
significant transformations as they navigate their journeys of self-discovery. They share common themes of
inner struggle, courage to follow their unique paths, and the importance of embracing their individual voices
and values. Despite their differences in character background, setting, and narrative style, both characters
serve as inspirational examples of individuals who prioritize authenticity and personal growth over societal
expectations. Their stories remind us of the significance of listening to our inner voices and making choices
that align with our true selves.