Dela Torre, Cristine D.

ALIT311
BS PSY 3YB-3 Tale of Genji

Express your understanding of each of the given quotations in relation to your reading of the
"Tale of Genji"

1. “Real things in the darkness seem no more real than dreams.”

The novel mostly follows the lives of Genji, also known as the Shining Prince, who is the
son of the Emperor and his favorite concubine, as the title suggests. His future appears promising
at first, but when his mother dies unexpectedly, he swiftly loses his prestige and position at court.
We follow the ups and downs of Genji's various love affairs, the varied fortunes of his political
career, and his adventures away from the court when he was forced to leave the capital owing to a
scandal, expertly guided by the author. Through this, my understanding of the quote is that in
reality, a lot of people are still remembered by the the things they did or what accomplishments
they made when alive, so in a way, that's how you live on. These days it's mostly the bad things
that are remembered, including historical people that were once usually seen as "good". “Real
things in the darkness”, I think this pertains to when we have obscure things that we think we can
actually do without any consequences. The darkness within every phase in our lives is inevitable,
however, there is no wrong for being hopeful and that there are times when darkness times can
turn to be the happiest thing that ever happened to us. Just like Genji, even though he had such a
dark past, still there are some positive things he experienced such as when the new Emperor knows
Genji is his real father, Genji rises high in status and position, being appointed to a high official
rank. He uses his power and wealth to bring benefits to the women he has loved, including bringing
them to live in a palace, a magnificent complex of four interconnected mansions, one for each of
the four seasons, and each housing one of his ladies. People may think this was just Genji being
like a “player” since he has a lot of affairs, I would rather think that he just cares about them so
much and deserves great treatment just like the others. This quote is telling us to test our horizons
if we ever stick around in life or simply give up just because of the negative things that we did in
the past.
2. “No art or learning is to be pursued halfheartedly...and any art worth learning will
certainly reward more or less generously the effort made to study it.”
The story begins with these accounts of highly toxic female competitions in the Tale of
Genji, which indicate both how powerful female jealousy is and, more significantly, that this
jealousy develops because women compete for men's devotion. This suggests that male attention
is worth the same as social currency. In this, the author describes how lust can enter our minds as
a notion that, if not managed properly, can turn into a weapon. When individuals think about
something for a long time, it becomes real to them, and they can daydream about it until it occurs.
Just like when Yang Kwei sees Fujitsubo, he is reminded of the love he once had before.
Moreover, in reality, people who put so much effort and dedication to a certain thing will have a
greater chance to get a worthwhile result than we could’ve ever imagined.

3. “There are as many sorts of women as there are women.”

This quote from the Tale of Genji is not only amusing, but it is also one of the most true
things in the novel. I feel that those who read this novel or the particular chapter of this quote at
the time it was written could have discovered a very true reality. Because the story's author is a
woman, I feel that she is attempting to make a point about women. The point she's trying to make
is that every woman is different and unique in her own way. This would give anyone reading the
book an insight into how they should better appreciate and respect the women in their community.
The author is attempting to convey the idea that no two persons are alike, and that everyone
requires a unique set of skills. In their encounters, they show patience and respect. This principle
was especially significant in ancient times while interacting with ladies (women) and showing
them the respect they deserved. This quote can also be implemented in a very practical sense in
today's society. It's incredible how God made each of us unique. It's amazing to discover that no
two people are alike; but, in today's culture, especially in the workplace, women are frequently
looked down upon and treated with a lack of respect and patience. Everyone who reads this novel
should learn an important lesson. It can help readers today understand how to better accept and
comprehend their differences, just as it did the readers from the time this was released.
References:
Chiappa, J. N. (2013, January 13). The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari). JNC.
http://mercury.lcs.mit.edu/%7Ejnc/prints/genji.html#:%7E:text=A%20major%20theme%20of%2
0the,filial%20loyalty%2C%20and%20family%20bonds.
Murasaki, B. S. (2022, January 19). The Tale of Genji Background. Copyright GradeSaver, 1999
- 2022. https://www.gradesaver.com/the-tale-of-genji