The Tale of Genji
Background Information This play is based on the classic novel of the same title “Genji Monogatari/The Tale of Genji” that was written in eleventh century by Murasaki Shikibu. Its hero is Hikaru Genji who is the second son of the emperor Kiritsubo. The themes are Hikaru’s love affair and political strife. Story Act-1 Hikaru is the second son of the emperor Kiritsubo. His mother who was a woman of comparatively low rank had died, when he was 3. After Hikaru's mother had died, the emperor got other woman, Fujitsubo, who was resemble Hikaru's mother. Hikaru liked Fujitsubo very much because he wanted his mother, but his emotion changed gradually. He is 17 now, and he loves her. Fujitsubo loves the emperor but she doesn’t feel happy. Because she thinks that the emperor loves Hikaru’s mother still now. And she begins to love Hikaru secretly. When the emperor goes out one night, Hikaru comes to Fujitsubo’s room, and he has a sex by force. Fujitsubo regrets so much. But Hikaru doesn’t intend to make an apology to Fujitsubo. After that night, they both feel pain. When Hikaru was 12 he celebrated his coming age, and he got married with Aoi who was a daughter of Minister of the left. As I mentioned before he is the second son of the emperor. The emperor’s first son who is the crown prince, his mother Kokiden is a daughter of Minister of the right. The emperor was worried about Hikaru because he might be involved in political strife. And the emperor decided to take off his right of succession. But Kokiden is afraid of Hikaru still now, and she threatened him anytime. Minister of the right intends to plot to Hikaru’s downfall someday. Hikaru has been involved in political strife already. Hikaru has some mistresses. One of them is Yugao. When Hikaru has been staying at a dilapidated manor with Yugao, she is killed by a vengeful spirit of Rokujo who is another mistress of him. Act-2 After Yugao died, Hikaru got an illness and he has stayed in a country house with his sadness. One day, he finds a lovely 10-year-old girl who is a niece of Fujitsubo. The girl is an illegitimate daughter of Fujitsubo’s elder brother, Lord Hyobu. Hikaru asks Lord Hyobu to give him the girl and he names her Murasaki. Murasaki is resemble Fujitsubo, and it means that she is resemble his mother. When Hikaru visits to Fujitsubo to report about her niece, Murasaki he has a sex by force. Fujitsubo has been pregnant. After 10months has passed, Fujitsubo has a baby who is the third son of the enperor. The emperor decides the baby to be the next crown prince. But both of Hikaru and Fujitsubo know that the baby’s father is Hikaru. At almost the same time, Hikaru’s wife Aoi has a baby of him. But Aoi is killed by a vengeful spirit of Rokujo like Yugao. Act-3 After Aoi died, Hikaru hadn’t seen Murasaki for almost two months. When Hikaru met Murasaki again, she has grown up enough as a beautiful girl. Hikaru rapes her, and they get married. The emperor Kiritsubo abdicates the throne to the crown prince, and the prince becomes the emperor Suzaku. At the same time, the third son of the ex-emperor Kiritsubo becomes the crown prince. Hikaru is ordered to be a guardian of the crown prince who is real son of him. As her son became the emperor Suzaku, Kokiden got a strong power. And the power of Minister of the right increases day by day. Just after the ex-emperor Kiritsubo has died, the political situation is confused very much. Minister of the right is going to plot to Hikaru’s downfall. Hikaru decides to retire from every official position. He goes to Suma that is countryside alone. The novel is continued, but the play of this time has finished.
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