Sweet Bean Paste

How does Durian Sukegawa’s use of a third-person limited perspective shape the gradual revelation of Tokue’s history? How does this structural choice contribute to the novel’s use of suspense?

Consider the novel’s interest in the idea of effort and method. How does sweet bean paste reflect the connection between labor and craft?

Compare and contrast the Doraharu shop and the Tenshoen sanatorium as primary settings in the novel. In what ways does each space function as both a site of imprisonment and a potential source of freedom for the characters?