The Tale of Genji

Running Head : THE TALE OF GENJI

The Tale of Genji

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Introduction

The Tale of Genji is considered to be the first novel that can be classified as a classic . The history states the importance of this novel as being the first novel of the modern era . Though different sources have different opinions about that statement , but nevertheless the work is considered to be the best from the historic times

The novel was written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century and portrays

the aristocracy of the women . The novel encompasses many different minor and major characters and does not follow a plot at all The novel is moving with the events as happens in the real life and the characters progress as they grow older . But the consistency between the characters and events is remarkably great as the number of characters grew up to four hundred

Plot

The work is about the son of the Japanese emperor named , Hikaru Genji Hikaru means shining . Thus the Shining Genji is the main character of the story and it recounts the events and life of him . The Genji had beautiful looks . The tale ponders the romantic life of Genji and the aristocracy that is laid in the upper ranks of society

Genji was the second son of his emperor father . His father loved his mother very much . He had number of wives but the love for the mother of Genji was unbelievably very much . His mother then died when he was 3 years old . After this his father married another woman who resembled his mother . Genji respected this woman as his step mother , but soon he realized that he loves that woman . This was all but unacceptable and it can 't happen in civilized world . That is what changed Genji

As the time passed and as he realized the bitter truth , he was on a role to sleep with different women . He had affairs with different women just because of the frustration he has acquired from his step mother . Though they both loved each other but they could not fulfill that love . Genji was married at that time , but all the mess that was then created in her mind made his life on the brink of dispersion . The continuing love affairs weren 't those which Genji required . He wanted love and he always believed that only her step mother can give her that love . That limited his mental consideration

The feats of Genji never stopped . Genji visited Kitayama , a place in northern rural hills , often . There he found a girl who was the niece of his step mother . She had a high resemblance with her aunt . Genji was fascinated by this beauty and kidnapped her . He then took care of this girl . He later on married that girl

At the similar time , he was continuing to have affair with his step mother . She was bearing the son of Genji . However , everyone else believed that this baby...