The FutonThe FutonTayama KataiTayama Katai

Presentation:Presentation:AileenAileen

YuiYui

IvyIvy

KatharinaKatharina

JacobJacob

1. Is there an ‘I’ (1. Is there an ‘I’ (watakushiwatakushi) in the story? Why is the story ) in the story? Why is the story

retroactively labeled an “I-novel”?retroactively labeled an “I-novel”?

5. Note the narrative perspective – who is telling the story, 5. Note the narrative perspective – who is telling the story, and whose perspective is the reader exposed to. Give some and whose perspective is the reader exposed to. Give some examples.examples.

6. Give one or two examples in which Tokio’s mind was fully 6. Give one or two examples in which Tokio’s mind was fully exposed to the reader in a “confessional mode”. Does the exposed to the reader in a “confessional mode”. Does the rhetoric of confessional translate into the rhetoric of rhetoric of confessional translate into the rhetoric of honesty or sincerity?honesty or sincerity?

7. Note the recurring images of colors, futon, clothing, etc. 7. Note the recurring images of colors, futon, clothing, etc. How do they function in contributing to the subtlety of the How do they function in contributing to the subtlety of the story?story?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

私私

わたしわたしWatashi – “I”Watashi – “I”

Narrative and Narrative PerspectiveNarrative and Narrative PerspectiveNeither:Neither:

Omniscient CharacterOmniscient Character Perspective Perspective Perspective Perspective

““He had already been He had already been completely disillusioned completely disillusioned on the pleasures of on the pleasures of married life. … As for married life. … As for this every day this every day monotonous existence monotonous existence he thoroughly and he thoroughly and absolutely bored with absolutely bored with it.” (p. 38) it.” (p. 38)

Narrative:Narrative:- Introverted PerspectiveIntroverted Perspective- BiasedBiased

“…“…While he could, being a While he could, being a literary man, consider his literary man, consider his own state of mind own state of mind objectively, the mind of a objectively, the mind of a young woman was not young woman was not something that could easily something that could easily be fathomed.” (p. 35)be fathomed.” (p. 35)

““His mind was excited, his wild His mind was excited, his wild feelings and the pleasure of feelings and the pleasure of his sadness mustered all his sadness mustered all their force, and while on the their force, and while on the one hand he was carried one hand he was carried away by burning jealousy, on away by burning jealousy, on the other he was coolly and the other he was coolly and objectively considering his objectively considering his own situation.” (p. 55)own situation.” (p. 55)

““It was painful to Yoshiko to be It was painful to Yoshiko to be separated from her lover. If separated from her lover. If only it had been possible she only it had been possible she would have liked him to be would have liked him to be there in Tokyo with her, and there in Tokyo with her, and just once in a while be able to just once in a while be able to see him, speak to him. But see him, speak to him. But she knew this was difficult at she knew this was difficult at the present time.” (p. 63)the present time.” (p. 63)

““Tanaka’s expression suddenly Tanaka’s expression suddenly changed. Shame, changed. Shame, exasperation, and a terrible exasperation, and a terrible feeling of despair filled his feeling of despair filled his heart. He didn’t know what to heart. He didn’t know what to say.” (p. 90)say.” (p. 90)

Tayama KataiTayama Katai

“ “ In ‘the Quilt’, the author has no idea, no In ‘the Quilt’, the author has no idea, no penitence, and he did not choose that penitence, and he did not choose that disgusting fact deliberately. I only showed disgusting fact deliberately. I only showed one fact that myself found from the life and one fact that myself found from the life and developed it in front of the readers.”developed it in front of the readers.”

——Katai’s later comments on “The Quilt” from “On Katai’s later comments on “The Quilt” from “On Writing”Writing”

1898 : 1898 : lived with Kunikida Doppo for two lived with Kunikida Doppo for two monthsmonths

(being taught to write “the fact”, not (being taught to write “the fact”, not “fiction”) “fiction”)

1899: 1899: got marriedgot married 1903: 1903: “Female Teacher” is published“Female Teacher” is published (The heroine is the beautiful (The heroine is the beautiful

teacher, that he encounter on the way to teacher, that he encounter on the way to work every morning. She briefly appears in work every morning. She briefly appears in Chapter 2 of “The Quilt”)Chapter 2 of “The Quilt”)

1904:1904: Michiyo cameMichiyo came (The process of having Michiyo as (The process of having Michiyo as

pupil is the same as Yoshiko. Michiyo sent pupil is the same as Yoshiko. Michiyo sent many letters and asked him to let her many letters and asked him to let her become his pupil…)become his pupil…)

third baby was bornthird baby was born start editing “Japan Chorography”start editing “Japan Chorography” 1907 :1907 : “The Quilt” is published“The Quilt” is published 1908 : 1908 : “Wife” is published“Wife” is published (depicts his wife who doesn’t have any (depicts his wife who doesn’t have any

understanding in literature)understanding in literature)

Confessional ModeConfessional Mode Confessions to the reader:Confessions to the reader:““When his wife was still unmarried (…), he had often climbed When his wife was still unmarried (…), he had often climbed

to this very spot hoping just to catch the faint sound of her to this very spot hoping just to catch the faint sound of her harp. So great had been his passion that if he couldn’t win harp. So great had been his passion that if he couldn’t win her heart he had wished only to cast himself away (…). her heart he had wished only to cast himself away (…). What a fickle heart! Who would have thought that things What a fickle heart! Who would have thought that things would change so much after just eight years? Why (…) had would change so much after just eight years? Why (…) had their pleasant life become so bleak?” (p. 55)their pleasant life become so bleak?” (p. 55)

““It was the loneliness of his own home that upset him so, It was the loneliness of his own home that upset him so, rather than Yoshiko’s affair. His unhappiness with a life that rather than Yoshiko’s affair. His unhappiness with a life that a man in his mid-thirties should expect rather to enjoy, his a man in his mid-thirties should expect rather to enjoy, his unhealthy thoughts about his job, his sexual frustration…” unhealthy thoughts about his job, his sexual frustration…” (p.76)(p.76)

Confessional modeConfessional mode

Character to character Character to character

Yoshiko’s confessional letter: “…we Yoshiko’s confessional letter: “…we (…) decided that at all costs we (…) decided that at all costs we would not reveal this one thing. would not reveal this one thing. What’s done was done, but we What’s done was done, but we pledged to maintain a pure love in pledged to maintain a pure love in the future.” (p. 88 f) the future.” (p. 88 f)

Confessional modeConfessional mode To himselfTo himself““He was sad, truly deeply sad. His sadness was not the He was sad, truly deeply sad. His sadness was not the

sadness of florid youth, nor simply the sadness of lovers. It sadness of florid youth, nor simply the sadness of lovers. It was a more profound and greater sadness, a sadness was a more profound and greater sadness, a sadness inherent in the innermost reaches of human life. The inherent in the innermost reaches of human life. The flowering of moving waters, the withering of blossoming flowering of moving waters, the withering of blossoming flowers – when encountering that irresistible force which is flowers – when encountering that irresistible force which is deep within nature, there is nothing as wretched nor as deep within nature, there is nothing as wretched nor as transient as man.” (p. 55)transient as man.” (p. 55)

““He was furious to think how he had done his serious best to He was furious to think how he had done his serious best to help their love, yet all the while having Yoshiko taken from help their love, yet all the while having Yoshiko taken from him body and soul (…). It would be in order for him, too, to him body and soul (…). It would be in order for him, too, to make a bold move and satisfy his sexual desire.” (p. 87) make a bold move and satisfy his sexual desire.” (p. 87)

Confessional modeConfessional mode

Contrast from biased perspective Contrast from biased perspective