A MATTER OF CHARACTER II
WHAT TO DO WITH CHARACTERS TOO NUMEROUS TO REMEMBER IN THE TALE OF GENJI
APPENDED TO LECTURE NOTES FOR FOURTH WEEK: ‘TAMAKAZURA: FEMALE AVENGER.’
Chapters 14-21, 22-33
REMEMBER THAT MAJOR CHARACTERS OCCUR AS PAIRS, EXCHANGING POEMS AND CONVERSATION. THERE ARE MANY CHARACTERS, BUT THEY ARE NEVER ON THE STAGE AT THE SAME TIME.
MOST EVENT IN THE TALE OF GENJI IS ONE-TO-ONE, THAT IS, IN A CAST OF THOUSANDS, THE TETE-TO-TETE, IN THE BEDROOM OR THE BACKGROUND, IS THE PRIMARY MODE OF ACTION. HERE IS A LIST OF WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE THE MAIN COUPLES IN EACH GROUP OF CHAPTERS. WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE PAIRING IS INDICATIVE OF PRIMARY POEM EXCHANGES. I GIVE THE PAGINATION FOR THE SEIDENSTICKER TRANSLATION ONLY.
WEEK THREE - CHAPTERS 14-21
14 MIOTSUKUSHI - Genji & Akashi lady Shinto ritual plays a prominent role.
15 YOMOGIU - Suetsumuhana & Jiju. Sisterhood of mistress & servant
Suetsumuhana & Genji.
16 SEKIYA - Utsusemi & Genji
17 EAWASE - Emperor Suzaku & Akikonomu. Left vs. Right, painting vs. Literature,
politics of a restored regency.
18 MATSUKAZE - Akashi nun & Akashi Lady
Genji & Akashi Lady
19 USUGUMO - Akashi & Nurse
Akashi & Genji (twice)
Genji alone (theme poem S340). Autumn and loss.
20 ASAGAO - Genji & Asagao
Genji (mused)
Murasaki (mused) winter detachment
21 OTOME - Yugiri (mused S374), and to Kojiju (S371), Gosechi
Genji & Gosechi
Akikonomu & Murasaki. Sacred & profane sisterhood? (S386)
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WEEK FOUR - CHAPTERS 22-33
22 TAMAKAZURA - Ukon & Tamakazura (S400)
Genji & Tamakazura (S402). Sisterhood again.
23 HATSUNE - Genji & Murasaki (S410). Poems 1-2.
24 KOCHO - Murasaki & Akikonomu (S 423). Spring vs. Fall + sisterhood.
25 HOTARU - Genji & Tamakazura (S 438).
26 TOKONATSU - Genji & Tamakazura
27 KAGARIBI - Genji & Tamakazura
28 NOWAKI - Tamakazura & Genji
29 MIYUKI - Omiya to Tamakazura (S477). Secrets revealed & success assured.
30 FUJIBAKAMA - Yugiri to Tamakazura (S 484)
31 MAKIBASHIRA - Higekuro to Moku (S 498-99)
Makibashira & Mother (S 500)
Omi Lady to Yugiri (S 510)
32 UMEGAE - Yugiri & Kumoi no kari (S 522).
33 FUJI NO URAHA - Kumoi no kari to Yugiri (twice) (S 528)
(To be continued as A Matter of Character III at end of Week Seven)