Classical Japanese Literature

Japanese Lit Genji's courtship of Murasaki is an example of Genji's overall trend towards using sexual and romantic conquests as a means by which to retain power and status. Having lost his official status and being demoted to Minamoto, Genji needs to maintain his personal power and one of the ways he does so is by seducing a long string of women. His behavior lasts throughout his life.

Although Genji does not rape or cause any direct harm, it is clear that women serve subservient and passive roles in the culture depicted in The Tale of Genji. One of the prime examples of the extent of patriarchy in The Tale of Genji is when Genji meets and begins to court Murasaki. First, Genji only wants to see "Pretty little girls," a pedophiliac statement that foreshadows the courtship with his chosen favorite of the "four little girls…very pretty indeed," (p. 23).

Genji immediately affirms his role as patriarch and bluntly states the subordinate position that all females must assume: "You are not to sulk, now, and make me unhappy…Young ladies should do as they are told," (p. 23). Females are depicted as having no will, volition, or rights. They are passive creatures to be used by men. Genji's courtship of Murasaki exemplifies pedophiliac and patriarchal behavior, which in turn reflects an overtly androcentric culture.

Murasaki was lucky for Genji's advances only in the sense that if it were not Genji it might have been a meaner and possibly cruel man. However, Murasaki cannot realistically be considered lucky at all. She is surely a child, described explicitly as such. Never offered an opportunity for anything but being a sex toy for a man, Murasaki occupies a curious and creepy role as Genji's adopted daughter-turned-lover. At first, Genji's manner is described as "warm and fatherly," (p. 23).

Genji is certainly kind to Murasaki, and "worked very hard to make her feel at home," (p. 24). Next, Genji assumes the role of teacher as well as father. Finally, Genji actually kidnaps Murasaki. Her new home is not unpleasant, but she misses her grandmother. However, Murasaki likes her new father figure. She sits in his lap and becomes "the perfect companion, a toy for him to play with," (p. 25). Genji is well aware that he toys with incest.

"He could not have been so free and uninhibited with a daughter of his own. There are restraints on paternal intimacy," (p. 25). Murasaki is perfect for Genji because she provides a proxy for paternal incest. All Genji has to do is wait for the right, most opportune moment to start courting and seducing Murasaki, who knows no other love than that expressed by Genji. The women to care for her do not understand her special role in Genji's eye. Moreover, Murasaki remains a secret.

Therefore, Murasaki easily mistakes Genji's perverse paternalism for true love. On the "eve of womanhood," Murasaki starts to flirt with Genji and the two make "a charming pair," (p. 112). Imagery of blooming and the "swell" of flowers suggest the sexual intimacy that will later blossom in their relationship. Both Murasaki and Genji can act out their sexual fantasies, overriding the incest taboo because they are not technically father and daughter.

Because Marasaki has been literally sheltered under Genji's tutelage, and cut off from society, she knows nothing but Genji and accepts their relationship however it might unfold. By the time Genji is fully read to court Murasaki in a more overt way, Murasaki has also started to wield her power over her father. Genji has explicit power over Murasaki, since the moment he met and kidnapped her, throughout their years learning and playing together.

Murasaki has no other options in Genji's care, but Genji takes such great care of her that Murasaki wants for nothing and is treated better than the other women in his midst. Murasaki, on the other hand, also comes to realize, even if unconsciously, that her looks and mannerisms can be manipulated to control Genji's behavior toward her. For example, in Chapter 11, Murasaki acts demure and plays hard to get to express consternation that Genji was late.

Their conversation soon turns toward one that would typically be shared by lovers: Genji strokes her hair and they speak of how much they miss each other in their absence and long for each other. The motif of power in the relationship between Genji and Murasaki emerges in the symbol of hair throughout the story. For example, Genji notices that Murasaki's hair has not been trimmed in some time and muses that he.