The Housekeeper and the Professor

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Caregiving for elderly populations affects a society on both cultural and economic levels. What support systems commonly exist for the aging and elderly, and how might these systems compare around the globe? What are the concerns caregivers might experience in providing this support?

Teaching Suggestion: This question invites students to consider the role of caregiving for elderly populations in a general way; more specific topics students might discuss in connection include the repercussions of long-term care for the elderly, the medical establishment’s role, and potential governmental responsibility. The question serves as an opportunity to introduce the novel’s themes of The Nature of Family and Relationships and The Nature of Memory, as well. The discussion of support systems for elderly populations is an issue of global attention, particularly in countries where a large proportion of the population is over 65 years of age. Consequently, the role of caregiving, either through informal familial support or formalized hires, is an important topic in how to support aging populations. In the novel, which is set in Japan, the Housekeeper is hired to clean the home of the aging Professor; however, her role quickly overlaps into caregiving as she begins to support the health and well-being of the ailing intellectual.