Difference between revisions of "The Tale of Genji"
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| − | '''''The Tale of Genji''''' is a classic Japanese novel about a self-centered, womanizing prince in [[History of Japan|Medieval Japan]]. It was written in the eleventh century by [[Lady Murasaki]], who was well acquainted with life in the | + | '''''The Tale of Genji''''' is a classic Japanese novel about a self-centered, womanizing prince in [[History of Japan|Medieval Japan]]. It was written in the eleventh century by [[Lady Murasaki]], who was well acquainted with life in the imperial court during the [[Heian Period]]. "Although fictional, the Tale of Genji is taken to be an accurate representation of aristocratic life in the middle of the Heian period (794-1195).<ref>[http://www.dartmouth.edu/~arth17/Genji.html]</ref> |
{{language box | {{language box | ||
|kanji=源氏物語 | |kanji=源氏物語 | ||
|romaji=Genji monogatari | |romaji=Genji monogatari | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | The main character, Genji, was a prodigy | + | The main character, Genji, was a prodigy and prince who used his beauty and charm to seduce women and kidnap girls. One, named Murasaki, was a ten-year-old whom he made a [[child bride]].<ref>Arnold, Mary, "[http://ezinearticles.com/?Female-Resistance-to-Male-Authority,-Part-One&id=147595 Female Resistance to Male Authority, Part One]</ref> The character is not to be confused with the author of the novel, who was not a child bride. Even though her life story is not the same as the author's, the character does represent the author in terms of personality, or at least self-image. Many readers complain that Murasaki is tiresomely perfect, especially compared to the novel's other female characters.<ref name=between>Tyler, Royall, ''The Disaster of the Third Princess: Essays on the Tale of Genji'', "[http://press.anu.edu.au/third_princess/mobile_devices/ch01.html Genji and Murasaki: Between Love and Pride]", ANU</ref> |
| − | In his old age | + | For a time, Murasaki is so dominated by Genji that her personality becomes an extension of his. However, she becomes increasingly disgusted and resentful in the face of Genji's continued infidelity. In the novel's climatic scene, Murasaki announces her discovery of self: "There I was, [she] thought, completely miserable, and he, simple pastime or not, was sharing his heart with another! Well, I am I!”.<ref name="between" /> The line "I am I" can be seen as a abbreviated form of "You are you, I am I." (''kimi wa kimi ware wa ware''), used in a popular poem of the time.<ref>Tyler, Royall, ''The Disaster of the Third Princess: Essays on the Tale of Genji'', "[http://press.anu.edu.au//third_princess/html/ch01s02.html Jealousy and self-affirmation]," ANU.</ref> In Japanese culture, this line had given Murasaki the reputation of the being a jealous woman, although this is presumably not what the author intended. |
| − | + | ||
| + | In his old age Genji dies miserably. Murasaki dies two or three years later, in her early forties. Genji, then in his early fifties, survives her as a mere shell of his former self. It appears that after the reader sees him for the last time, he leaves the world, retires to a [[Buddhist]] temple, and dies within a year or two.<ref>"[http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/taleofgenji/introduction3.html The Tale of Genji]"</ref> | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 01:56, September 20, 2014
The Tale of Genji is a classic Japanese novel about a self-centered, womanizing prince in Medieval Japan. It was written in the eleventh century by Lady Murasaki, who was well acquainted with life in the imperial court during the Heian Period. "Although fictional, the Tale of Genji is taken to be an accurate representation of aristocratic life in the middle of the Heian period (794-1195).[1]
| The Tale of Genji | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 源氏物語 | ||||
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The main character, Genji, was a prodigy and prince who used his beauty and charm to seduce women and kidnap girls. One, named Murasaki, was a ten-year-old whom he made a child bride.[2] The character is not to be confused with the author of the novel, who was not a child bride. Even though her life story is not the same as the author's, the character does represent the author in terms of personality, or at least self-image. Many readers complain that Murasaki is tiresomely perfect, especially compared to the novel's other female characters.[3]
For a time, Murasaki is so dominated by Genji that her personality becomes an extension of his. However, she becomes increasingly disgusted and resentful in the face of Genji's continued infidelity. In the novel's climatic scene, Murasaki announces her discovery of self: "There I was, [she] thought, completely miserable, and he, simple pastime or not, was sharing his heart with another! Well, I am I!”.[3] The line "I am I" can be seen as a abbreviated form of "You are you, I am I." (kimi wa kimi ware wa ware), used in a popular poem of the time.[4] In Japanese culture, this line had given Murasaki the reputation of the being a jealous woman, although this is presumably not what the author intended.
In his old age Genji dies miserably. Murasaki dies two or three years later, in her early forties. Genji, then in his early fifties, survives her as a mere shell of his former self. It appears that after the reader sees him for the last time, he leaves the world, retires to a Buddhist temple, and dies within a year or two.[5]
Notes
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Arnold, Mary, "Female Resistance to Male Authority, Part One
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tyler, Royall, The Disaster of the Third Princess: Essays on the Tale of Genji, "Genji and Murasaki: Between Love and Pride", ANU
- ↑ Tyler, Royall, The Disaster of the Third Princess: Essays on the Tale of Genji, "Jealousy and self-affirmation," ANU.
- ↑ "The Tale of Genji"