Understanding Modern Japanese Fiction through Fiction (Research Paper Sample)

Understanding Modern Japanese Fiction through Fiction
An Assignment Submitted by
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Class XXXX, Section XXXX, Spring 2014
Introduction
Modern Japanese fiction has enjoyed increased popularity in the west. Social, political and economic norms have impacted the content of these fictions. Eastern and Western literature have strong influenced each other and still continue to do so. Japanese culture is classified into four periods: Modern, medieval, classical and ancient. Ancient literature (until 794), Japanese borrowed heavily from the Chinese’s writing system. Japanese’s syntactical format used Chinese characters but the sentences were read as Japanese’s phonetics although it resembled Chinese. Classical literature (794-1185), this is the literature that was produced in the Heian period characterized by the era of literature and art. Medieval literature (1185-1603), Japan witnesses many civil wars which influenced emergence of warrior class and war related stories. Early modern (1603-1868), form of popular drama increased because of the rise of working middle class in the capital city Tokyo formally Edo .There was rising literary levels among the population and lending libraries. Themes addressed centered on human relationships, conflicts and love. Modern literature (1868-1945) marks rapid industrialization and introduction of the European literature. Young Japanese writers struggled with new artistic schools and ideas. Post war literature, stories centered on the Second World War and the defeat of Japan influenced literature. Stories of defeat, purpose and disaffection were written. (Wikipedia, 2014). Based on The child Play and the troubled waters, the themes of predestination and gender will be discussed. These fictions were written during the Modern Literature era.
Both stories were written during the Meiji period. It was believed that if one worked hard then they will be successful later in life. The main characters in the Child Play are children, a girl and a gang of boys who lived in Yoshiwara. Prostitution was licensed here. The story centers on the fall and summer festivals. Shota and Modir were close knit friends and played together at the brush-maker when they were young but had drifted apart as they grew up. Nobu, the boy ended up in priesthood and Midori, the girl became a prostitute. They lost the freedom, they used to enjoy as children. Fighting and annoyance destroyed their friendship. Nebu and Midori had mutual love for each other but sadly their paths cannot cross because of pre-destination.
Troubled Waters is a short story which centers on Oriki and Kikunoi. Oriki is the most popular geisha and Kikunoi is an admired geisha house. Her previous relationships are expressed from Tamonosuke Yuki’s perspective, wealthy patron. She attends to him but he is more interested to know her previous boyfriend whom the other Geisha mocks Oriki about. Oriki was previously involved with Genschichi for long. He was a bedding salesman but squandered all his wealth on her. His family ended up living in poverty at the edge of merchant back street. Genschichi’s wife ended up leaving him. The story ended with characters’ perspective of the love suicide of unhappy geisha and lover. They are supposedly to be Oriki and Genschichi.
Pre-destination is the belief that fate establishes in advance what will occur. It is evidence in both Trouble Waters and Child play. In Trouble Waters, women who have experience in the quarter will tell you- it’s the men who begin visiting in fall who prove to be the truly faithfully ones. Men establish relationship with the prostitution but when they get married, some stop these relationships but some continue.
There is social class classification system. The rich or those with moderate affluence will always have certain privileges. Those in lower class believe this. In Child Play ,when Nobu was rained on and broke his clogs .Chokichi offered him his jacket and exchanged his clogs for the broken ones. Nobu wondered if this was not fair but he said “I don’t mind. I’m used to going barefoot. Someone like you have soft feet. You could never walk barefoot on the gravel. Come on wear these,”. In troubled waters, the prostitute favored those who had fortune. Okiri left Genschichi when his wealth diminished. He ended up living in poverty with his family. The other prostitutes made fun of Okiri’s previous affair with him.Genschichi’s told him”… if you earned a little money again, they’d fawn over you ….because you are poor now that she ignores you…”
People follow family history in their professional life. In Child’s Play, Midori ended up being a prostitute like her sister and Nobu ended in priesthood like his father. She knew about the charms and tricks the girls would use, simpering to summon men they longed for, like mice grabbing cheese. The color of his robes would never be the same. Chokichi and Shota were left in the street life. Chokichi told Shota that he will have both the front and the back street to himself. In Troubled Water’s, Oriki worked as a prostitute as a result of her family. She said, “… I come from such a worthless family; I’ll probably spend the rest of my life like this.”
There is predestination that gossip will always happen. People always talk about events and personal’s details of other people. In Child’s Play, Talk, talk: in this neighborhood, there is always grist for gossip. The details are tedious, but the stories make the rounds .Nobu couldn’t stomach all the talk. He had never been one to enjoy idle gossip. In Troubled Waters, when Oriki and Genschichi committed love suicide, there were all sorts of rumors, but nothing that was known with any certainty.
The expectations of gender have prevailed in both stori...