Love Suicides at Amijima Essay

This paper discusses how suicide is viewed in Japanese society, and how a greater understanding can be gained of the Japanese viewpoint on voluntary death by a study of Chikamatsu Monzaemons notable drama The Love Suicides at Amijima. The writer provides an overview of Chikamatsus life, literary career and the era in which he lived in the second half of the 17th century. The theatrical traditions in which he wrote are described as well.His domestic tragedy, The Love Suicides at Amijima, is described in detail, and the writer explains the social and family obligations in which the protagonenists are pin down and which ultimately lead to the double suicide at the end. The theme of the Love Suicides of Amijima respects the differences between American and Japanese culture with regards to views of suicide, duty, and honor, while still remaining accessible to its 21st century American audience. Passion, heartache, and let go are narratives that have existed eternally.Another theme is love and self destruction. What I have from my notes is the dichotomy of the hit and brutality of love transcends place and time. As One of the best ways to understand a incompatible culture is to read the literature it has produced for one is introduced to the world view in which the author operates. After all, severally text is made up of the particularities of the world that reflects it. And there is nothing more extreme and intriguing fashion model of such suicides than the love suicides or shinj popularized by Chikamatsu Monzaemon.It is defined as based on a arrangement between lovers trapped in a web of such intense turmoil they have no recourse save the ultimate destructive act. Although we recognize that the writers works originated hundreds of years ago and certainly values, motives and times have changed in the contemporary period, it can still serve as a literary starting point to understand the Japanese concept of suicide. Furthermore the events, characters, and s ymbols were all interesting peculiarly Osans character because she is fully aware of her husbands love for Koharu, yet she still decides to digest with him.Her actions seem to baffle me. She comforts Jihei, although he is crying over another women. Also, when she reveals that she sent Koharu a letter asking to end her relationship with Jihei, she immediately asks Jihei to save Koharu instead of forgetting about the request. Furthermore, Osan gives Jihei money, (money that is necessary to be practice aside for business and the children) to take care of Koharus ransom. I am quite confused as to why she would do this, considering she has been nothing but a loving wife and a caring mother.