Tale Of Genji Theme Of Freedom

The Tale of Genji is a story that takes place in the time of the Heian period. In this period, various morbid actions and events happened and to the world now, was normal to the men and women of this period. The following factors that will be analyzed will be mainly social rights, Constraints and freedom, and appropriate privilege of rank. Thus, taking these factors into account there will be evidence that indeed the lives of the royal rank were not as simple as they were known to be, and in a broader perspective to examine what their status of freedom was. The first factor that will be covered is social rights. In the story, when Genji is becoming a man it is showing a tradition that once the crown prince turns of age he will have his hair
Due to his rank, he was not permitted the freedom to go anywhere a great distance from the palace. As said in the story, “…he was of such rank that freedom of movement was not permitted him.” In a whole sense his freedom was constrained and had to bend the rules because of his illness.
As for freedom Genji and the courts had various freedoms such as, poetry, music, and etc. Though, the most extravagant example of freedom in the story was Fujitsubos power because she was the daughter of the former emperor and consort to Genji’s father she had the most effective power in the court and no one could tell her wrong except for few important people like Genji who had very affectionate feelings towards her.
Genji had privilege to almost anything and in a better sense he was arrogant and did not care what people told him, whatever he wanted went. Yet even though people tried they could not stop him because of that power. For example, as indicated in chapter five of the story, “it will do you no good. I am always allowed my way.” Genji forced a woman to have intercourse with him even though she did not accept it, he still went through with his
Men and women were not very equal at all, in fact women were not treated the best. Examples from the royal privilege evidence shows that impulsiveness. Not only was the freedom of women jeopardized, but court life was too as evidence once again reveals in the story that Genji was not permitted to leave to go a great distance from the royal court. He was also not permitted to show himself in public or to show any discretion because it would cause great dishonor to the royal court. This was a big constraint because of the fact that if he were to be sick or wanted to travel he would have to do it quietly to avoid breaking the law at the time even if he was to die. Lastly, Genji has freedoms to write poetry and make music and have the leisure’s of life, but the most major of the freedoms was Fujitsubos. She had the power to disobey orders if she pleased and this is a very important factor because women were not permitted to do such a thing, but since she was the former emperors daughter and the spouse to Genji’s father she was not seen as any normal woman and was much respected. Thus, social rights, freedom or constraints, and appropriate privilege of rank and its evidence has proven the various events and hardships many men and women have gone through in the Heian