The Tale of Genji Essay

This Study Guide consists of approximately 136 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Tale of Genji.

The Tale of Genji Essay

This Study Guide consists of approximately 136 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Tale of Genji.
This section contains 4,610 words
(approx. 12 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy The Tale of Genji Study Guide

In the following excerpt, Bargen considers the social implications of the episodes of spirit possession in

The Tale of Genji, suggesting that "they can be viewed as a female protest against the polygyny of Heian Society."

The Japanese national classic, Murasaki Shikibu's Genji monogatari, is chiefly valued for its exquisitely drawn psychological character portrayals and detailed realistic descriptions of tenth century Heian court life. Yet the work also contains highly dramatic episodes and animated scenes of spirit possession. One of the most memorable scenes occurs in a minor episode in which Higekuro's wife dumps ashes on her husband's head. She is violently enraged by the prospect of being ousted from her position as principal wife by a new mistress, and she is possessed. According to the Heian practice of polygyny, she was expected to tolerate another woman joining the household, and therefore her indignant and undignified behavior...

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This section contains 4,610 words
(approx. 12 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy The Tale of Genji Study Guide
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The Tale of Genji from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.