reflection on the tale of genji
In order to do this reflection on The Tale of Genji, you first need to read the remainder of the work, which is found in the three further segments in Module One.
As before, create a file and write about 300 to 400 words, this time discussing The Tale of Genji in regards to how it does/does not fit the motif of the course: how we deal with ‘The Other,’ those who are different than ourselves.
There are several different approaches to discussing this work in regards to the motif of how we treat those who are unlike us. It is best to pick just one of these, in this fairly short writing:
- Focus on the female author, Murasaki Shikibu. It would stand to reason that a woman would be more comfortable writing about female characters than male, even though this work has the standard male protagonist. So, does this seem to bear out? Which characters seem more realistic, and which seem to be more “The Other” to her as a writer? Discuss how realistic (or not) Genji seems to you; give an example or two briefly. Do the same with the main female character (who, we note, shares the author’s name). You could also mention other characters, male or female. (This would also be an opportunity to discuss Murasaki [the character] as a sort of hidden protagonist, if you see her as such.)
- Alternatively, focus on the characters, and how they treat each other as kindred spirits, or as “The Other.” How about Genji, in this regard? In romancing so many women, is he treating them as unique individuals, or something less? If the second thing mostly, are there exceptions, where he does seem to treat one or another woman as a kindred spirit? Give some examples. How about Murasaki? Is she able to see Genji as a kindred spirit? Always, or only sometimes? Again, offer examples.
- Yet a third approach to this would be to focus on yourself, and on the fairly vast cultural differences between our own and the culture in which Murasaki lived and wrote. To what extent do you find similar cultural values to your own in this work, and which others are alien to you? Here too, give examples; go beyond merely naming a cultural value in the work, but comment on what part of the work shows that value.
As before, the best of the submissions of this assignment will not be writings which greatly exceed my requested length. On the contrary, the highest grades will be earned by submissions which begin with a thesis statement (a concise one or two sentences summing up your opinion on this matter); and then which mention specific moments in the story as detailed support, to illustrate a logical argument to support and explain the thesis statement. Sentence-level proofing effectiveness will also be considered in grading. Note: This is not a full-length, formal essay. It is considerably shorter than that, but I do not want unproofed, disorganized rambling.
Submission instructions:
- Please single-space. There will be a 3-point penalty for failing to single-space.
- Save your document as either MS Word or as Rich Text. Please save your document using the filename Reflection 3 plus your initials.
- Then, in this very window, attach your file: Browse your computer to where you have saved the file,
- click to highlight and select it,
- then click on Open to attach it. You will see the attached file here below; if you do not, you have done something wrong.
