The Kagero Diary Analysis

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The Kagero Diary written in the 10th details life in the Heian Period. The author, addressed as The Mother of Michitsuna provides commentary towards her life as a married noblewoman. The Mother of Michitsuna’s writing provides a gendered voice in the text, effectively showing the text is by a woman and she is aware of her womanhood. The author effectively conveys this style through the subject matters focused and illuminated in the diary, and a sense of awareness of her place in society. The Mother of Michitsuna accounts various aspects in her life, but place importance towards her marriage to the prince, Fujiwara no Kaneie, and her recurring thoughts. In the first paragraph of the text, the author states her writing “could even serve to …show more content…
While the author felt lonely, especially when overcoming her feelings towards Kaneie, she adopts a daughter. Afterwards, she interacts with her throughout the day and turned to teaching calligraphy, [and] waka composition (Book Three, 297). More so, the author refuses to let a suitor court her, by rationalizing the young age of her daughter. As so, choosing to educate her daughter on the Japanese writing style, and shield her from marriage oppose societal expectations present in the text, that were forced upon the author by her mother. Therefore, by noticing and challenging the place in society for her daughter, the narrator shows vivid awareness for her gender. Another interaction in which the author indicates awareness of her gender include fleeting affection towards Kaneie. In Book One, The Mother of Michitsuna composes long poem pieces to express her thoughts towards him. In response, she states Then I received this from him!...Loves usually fades with each meeting” (Book One, 95). Contrastingly, In Book Three, when Kaneie expects replies from her she says “I no longer fretted about things, I actually felt quite at peace” (Book Three, 281). In Book One, the author makes effort and expresses disdain towards Kaneie’s behavior due to her love for him. However, by Book Three …show more content…
The recurring narration of certain topics, structure within the text and her expressed feelings qualify that the text is by a woman. Coupled with instances that reflect her social position, the narrator remains conscious of her gender. With the conflicting values present within the text, not only does the Kagero Diary show the normalities present in Ancient Japan during the Heian period such as marriage and nobility, but the ability to express one’s opinion towards existing structures through the presence of a gendered voice. As a result, writing, supplies individuals with accessibility to reflect gender and commentary of ascribed conditions expected of men and women within

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