Obsession Of Women In The Tale Of Genji
The Tale of Genji
The Tale of Genji is a classic novel from Japanese literature that revolves around men’s obsession of women. The novel is sometimes hard to follow due to the fact people from the Heian Period in Japan (c. 794-c. 1185) thought it was rude to name people; therefore people are referred to by their rank, color of clothing or place they came from instead of their name. People’s names can change throughout the novel due to a change in political status or change in address. (New World Encyclopedia 2008). Throughout The Tale of Genji, the men and women suffer horribly for their obsessions by suffering from anxiety, being unable to control their own actions, and by making bad decisions.
The main character of the tale is a man referred to as Genji who puts himself in uncomfortable situations due to his obsession with certain women. There are several other characters throughout the novel who also suffer from their obsessions. The definition of obsession is a compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by …show more content…
I assume it would be like me trying to love a dog or couch as my significant other. When I think about it like that it sounds absurd to be able to love a woman back then like men are expected to today. I always thought the Japanese were highly honorable people but this tale makes me think otherwise. I have never seen such carelessness of other people’s feelings as Genji and the other men in this tale are to the women in their lives. They seem very selfish. For instance when Kashiwagi knows that Genji has discovered his affair with Genji’s wife, the Third Princess, he is literally physically sick because of it. Not because he has ruined the Third Princess’s life but because he is ashamed of Genji knowing he betrayed him: ‘I cannot face the world knowing that he
The Tale of Genji is a classic novel from Japanese literature that revolves around men’s obsession of women. The novel is sometimes hard to follow due to the fact people from the Heian Period in Japan (c. 794-c. 1185) thought it was rude to name people; therefore people are referred to by their rank, color of clothing or place they came from instead of their name. People’s names can change throughout the novel due to a change in political status or change in address. (New World Encyclopedia 2008). Throughout The Tale of Genji, the men and women suffer horribly for their obsessions by suffering from anxiety, being unable to control their own actions, and by making bad decisions.
The main character of the tale is a man referred to as Genji who puts himself in uncomfortable situations due to his obsession with certain women. There are several other characters throughout the novel who also suffer from their obsessions. The definition of obsession is a compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by …show more content…
I assume it would be like me trying to love a dog or couch as my significant other. When I think about it like that it sounds absurd to be able to love a woman back then like men are expected to today. I always thought the Japanese were highly honorable people but this tale makes me think otherwise. I have never seen such carelessness of other people’s feelings as Genji and the other men in this tale are to the women in their lives. They seem very selfish. For instance when Kashiwagi knows that Genji has discovered his affair with Genji’s wife, the Third Princess, he is literally physically sick because of it. Not because he has ruined the Third Princess’s life but because he is ashamed of Genji knowing he betrayed him: ‘I cannot face the world knowing that he