Snow Falling on Cedars?

Question

I've read the book, but I still can't seem to get the answer to this question. Can anyone give me any kind of clue as to where to look?

"In his first description of Carl Heine, Guterson imparts a fair amount of what is seems to be background information... We learn that Carl Heine is considered a "good man." How do these facts become crucial later on, as mechanisms of plot, as revelations of the dead man's character and as clues to San Piedro's collective mores?"

Like, what are "collective mores"? I'm so confused... maybe I'm stupid.

Answer 1

The people of San Piedro had a lot of guilt over the interment. If it could be proven that carl was killed by a "Jap" some of thnis guilt could be alliveated. The "Jap" would not be a good person and would have killed a good person. The "collective mores" were such that Carl had to be shown as "a good Person", by showing his flaws it shows the "Jap" to be less bad and more good. When, during the heated exchange, he admitted to being a "nazi" like the ones killed by the "Jap" he was admitting to these flaws. Both Carl and, more openly, his mother showed their prejudicial feelings towards the Japenese Americans. The mother by not giving them the land they paid for, and Carl through his complacencey. In general "collective mores" are the social feelings of a group, such as the Jim Crow laws of the south. White people were raised to believe blacks were inferior and therefore did not deserve to be treated as equals. I believe Gunderson was using this historic incident as a microcosm of the general social structure in America. Many other regional examples can be found.

Answer 2

Urine falling of Pine Trees is a favy of mine.