A MATTER OF CHARACTER I

WHAT TO DO WITH CHARACTERS TOO NUMEROUS TO REMEMBER IN THE TALE OF GENJI

APPENDED TO LECTURE NOTES FOR SECOND WEEK: 'CRACKING THE INNER CIRCLE AND

THE EXILE YEARS.'

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:

WEEK ONE - CHAPTERS 1-6

KIRITSUBO - Grandmother And Myobu no omoto (visit of palace to private space).

HAHAKIGI - Uma no kami and To no Chujo ( public talk in a private room of

the palace. Amayo no shinasadame.

UTSUSEMI - Genji & Utsusemi

YUGAO - Genji & Yugao

Genji & Ukon (Perhaps more important)

WAKAMURASAKI - Genji & the nun, Murasaki's aunt.

SUETSUMUHANA - Genji & Suetsumuhana, the Safflower Lady

WEEK TWO - CHAPTERS 7-13

MOMIJI NO GA - Genji & Fujitsubo (major)

Genji & Naishi (minor) (eroticism heightened by a vow to conceal.)

HANA NO EN - Genji & Oborozukiyo, the Lady of the Misty Moon.

(eroticism heightened by the danger of discovery.)

AOI - Rokujo to herself.

(Internalized monologue.)

SAKAKI - Rokujo & Genji

Oborozukiyo & Genji

Fujitsubo & Genji (Developmental deepening of everyone's physical &

mental condition + vows to give up eroticism. Temporary abstinence

that does not work.)

HANACHIRUSATO - Genji & Hanachirusato, the Lady of the Orange Blossoms.

SUMA - Genji & Murasaki, pp. 224 & 229, two poetic exchanges.

AKASHI - Genji & Akashi Lady. S. 263, F. 72.

WEEK THREE - CHAPTERS 14-

MIOTSUKUSHI - (TO BE CONTINUED)

NOTES BY KENNETH L. RICHARD