"Being True to Oneself" ◆ Maintaining Pride in the Face of Adversity

Chunichi Shimbun Morning Edition, July 21, 2006

What do people hold on to when they lose their health, go bankrupt, or lose a loved one? The 1985 American film Out of Africa, starring Meryl Streep, makes us reflect on the strength of the human spirit.

Set in the early 20th century, the story follows Karen, a wealthy single woman who pursues her dream in the vast lands of Africa. She marries a baron who loves hunting and moves to Kenya.

It was a time when men dominated society. Karen wasn’t even allowed to join a white-only club. Yet, every time someone told her, “That’s impossible for a woman,” she burned with determination. She took over the management of a coffee plantation in place of her pleasure-seeking husband, treating the local Black population with sincerity and eventually falling in love with an adventurer named Denys (played by Robert Redford).

The first tragedy struck when she contracted syphilis—from her own husband. Though she returned to her native Denmark for treatment, she was left unable to bear children. To overcome this emotional pain, Karen devoted herself to the education of local children.

Eventually, her marriage collapsed. A passionate romance with Denys followed, but the freedom-loving Denys refused to marry her. Then came a fire that destroyed the plantation, the death of a trusted friend from illness, and finally, Denys himself died in a plane crash.

Having lost everything, Karen was forced to return home. But before leaving, she knelt before the British governor to beg that the native people not be stripped of their land. Witnessing her dignity, even the white men at the club offered her a farewell toast with genuine respect. Karen’s unwavering pride and integrity moved even those men.

The loss of wealth, health, or love can be deeply destabilizing. But the ability to cope depends greatly on whether one has lived true to oneself. How might modern women view Karen, who strove for independence with sincerity and strength in a time when gender equality was far from realized?