Difference between revisions of "The Tale of Genji"
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The character Murasaki 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 and self-image. Some critics argue that Murasaki is tiresomely perfect, and that several of the novel's other female characters are more interesting.<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> | The character Murasaki 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 and self-image. Some critics argue that Murasaki is tiresomely perfect, and that several of the novel's other female characters are more interesting.<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> | ||
| − | Dealing with straying husbands is a recurring theme. In the “rainy night conversation," Murasaki advises a woman whose husband has strayed to let him | + | Dealing with straying husbands is a recurring theme. In the “rainy night conversation," Murasaki advises a woman whose husband has strayed to let him know tactfully that she knows and cares, and so to win back his affection. |
Through much of the novel's extended narrative, Murasaki is dominated by Genji. Her personality becomes an extension of his. In the face of Genji's continued infidelity, she grows increasingly disgusted and resentful. 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" is an abbreviated form of, "You are you, I am I." (''kimi wa kimi, ware wa ware''), a line from a poem popular at the time.<ref name=jealousy>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> Although feminists may side with the long-suffering Murasaki, the traditional view is that this is the moment she fell from grace. Despite the elaborate set up intended to justify her behavior, Murasaki is remembered in Japanese culture for her "jealousy" (''shitto'').<ref name="jealousy" /> | Through much of the novel's extended narrative, Murasaki is dominated by Genji. Her personality becomes an extension of his. In the face of Genji's continued infidelity, she grows increasingly disgusted and resentful. 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" is an abbreviated form of, "You are you, I am I." (''kimi wa kimi, ware wa ware''), a line from a poem popular at the time.<ref name=jealousy>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> Although feminists may side with the long-suffering Murasaki, the traditional view is that this is the moment she fell from grace. Despite the elaborate set up intended to justify her behavior, Murasaki is remembered in Japanese culture for her "jealousy" (''shitto'').<ref name="jealousy" /> | ||
Revision as of 07:13, September 20, 2014
The Tale of Genji is a Japanese novel about a self-centered, womanizing prince in the Heian period (794-1195). It was written in the eleventh century by Lady Murasaki, who was well acquainted with life in the imperial court. Although fictional, it understood to be an accurate representation of aristocratic life at the court in Kyoto around the year 1000.[1]
| The Tale of Genji | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 源氏物語 | ||||
| |||||
The main character, Genji, was a prodigy and a prince who used his beauty and charm to seduce women and kidnap girls. He married a ten-year-old girl named Murasaki.[2]
The character Murasaki 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 and self-image. Some critics argue that Murasaki is tiresomely perfect, and that several of the novel's other female characters are more interesting.[3]
Dealing with straying husbands is a recurring theme. In the “rainy night conversation," Murasaki advises a woman whose husband has strayed to let him know tactfully that she knows and cares, and so to win back his affection.
Through much of the novel's extended narrative, Murasaki is dominated by Genji. Her personality becomes an extension of his. In the face of Genji's continued infidelity, she grows increasingly disgusted and resentful. 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" is an abbreviated form of, "You are you, I am I." (kimi wa kimi, ware wa ware), a line from a poem popular at the time.[4] Although feminists may side with the long-suffering Murasaki, the traditional view is that this is the moment she fell from grace. Despite the elaborate set up intended to justify her behavior, Murasaki is remembered in Japanese culture for her "jealousy" (shitto).[4]
Murasaki dies 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
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tyler, Royall, The Disaster of the Third Princess: Essays on the Tale of Genji, "Jealousy and self-affirmation," ANU.
- ↑ "The Tale of Genji"