Comment on style/ language

The overall tone of the story is one of hope though there are intense scenes of despair and even hatred. Blackthorne is a strong character with definite ideas about life and honor. Cast into a completely different culture, he is initially unforgiving and hates the situation though he comes to accept that at least some of the ways of the Japanese people are acceptable and are even better than those he believed to be correct prior to his arrival in Japan. One of the biggest problems for Blackthorne is the lack of sanctity of life exhibited by the Japanese.