It is a continuous cycle, always coming back to the same starting point. Like a circle, there is no beginning, and there is no end. In Buddhism, this concept of a circle is very important for the principle of rebirth. If one does not live a fulfilling life, one cannot leave the cycle and reach nirvana. Being reborn is like hitting a reset button to get a second chance. One should live constantly working to escape this cycle and reach salvation. Above all, I believe Genji’s story is about second chances. Lady Muraski creates repetitions to draw a parallel between two timelines. The original timeline belongs to the King. He is the first revolution readers witness. The second revolution is Genji’s life, fueled by the residual centripetal energy
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The main reason the King and Genji’s mother could not be together was that the Haven was “someone of no very great rank” (Murasaki 3). This brought out an array of issues that ended up causing her painful death. Although for Genji, falling in love with his stepmom was hardly any better than falling in love with a lower class women, Fujitsubo “was of far higher standing, commanded willingly respect, and could not possibly be treated lightly” like the Haven was (Murasaki 14). This small difference allowed for Fujitsubo to be the substitute for the Haven in Genji’s life. Lady Murasaki brilliantly writes in this exchange. On the surface, Fujitsubo is Genji’s stepmom, so she is replacing the Haven in a maternal role. However, within the cosmic wheel, she also is in the same position that Genji’s mom was in with the King, being Genji’s first true lover. This detail is necessary for the plot because Genji saw what consequences came with loving a woman who was of lower standing. Ironically, in the end, he still choses a forbidden love, following in the footsteps of his …show more content…
That is where the young Murasaki comes in. Although it is less obvious, there is an uncanny resemblance between young Murasaki and Genji. When Genji asks the nun for her, he pleas saying that “her situation and mine are so alike that I have longed to beg you to recognize how much she and I share” (Murasaki 91). From the very start, they have matching outward appearances. Genji is described as being “charmingly distinguished in manner…naturally he applied himself to formal scholarship, but he also set the heavens ringing with the music of strings and flute. In fact, if I were to list all the things at which he excelled, I would only succeed in making him sound absurd” (Murasaki 13). Basically, Genji was described as nothing short of a God. Similarly, young Murasaki receives high praises, being described as having “her share both of looks and of character,” making her “an obvious future beauty” (Murasaki 85). Therefore it is not surprising that Genji sees potential within her, recognizing a young version of himself within young Murasaki. From this he looks at her as an opportunity to rewrite his past by giving her the life he never had. Noticing how “she had a very dear face, and the faint arc of her eyebrows, the forehead from which she had childishly swept back her hair, and the hairline itself were extremely pretty.” Genji pronounced that “she is one I would like to see when she grows
The main reason the King and Genji’s mother could not be together was that the Haven was “someone of no very great rank” (Murasaki 3). This brought out an array of issues that ended up causing her painful death. Although for Genji, falling in love with his stepmom was hardly any better than falling in love with a lower class women, Fujitsubo “was of far higher standing, commanded willingly respect, and could not possibly be treated lightly” like the Haven was (Murasaki 14). This small difference allowed for Fujitsubo to be the substitute for the Haven in Genji’s life. Lady Murasaki brilliantly writes in this exchange. On the surface, Fujitsubo is Genji’s stepmom, so she is replacing the Haven in a maternal role. However, within the cosmic wheel, she also is in the same position that Genji’s mom was in with the King, being Genji’s first true lover. This detail is necessary for the plot because Genji saw what consequences came with loving a woman who was of lower standing. Ironically, in the end, he still choses a forbidden love, following in the footsteps of his …show more content…
That is where the young Murasaki comes in. Although it is less obvious, there is an uncanny resemblance between young Murasaki and Genji. When Genji asks the nun for her, he pleas saying that “her situation and mine are so alike that I have longed to beg you to recognize how much she and I share” (Murasaki 91). From the very start, they have matching outward appearances. Genji is described as being “charmingly distinguished in manner…naturally he applied himself to formal scholarship, but he also set the heavens ringing with the music of strings and flute. In fact, if I were to list all the things at which he excelled, I would only succeed in making him sound absurd” (Murasaki 13). Basically, Genji was described as nothing short of a God. Similarly, young Murasaki receives high praises, being described as having “her share both of looks and of character,” making her “an obvious future beauty” (Murasaki 85). Therefore it is not surprising that Genji sees potential within her, recognizing a young version of himself within young Murasaki. From this he looks at her as an opportunity to rewrite his past by giving her the life he never had. Noticing how “she had a very dear face, and the faint arc of her eyebrows, the forehead from which she had childishly swept back her hair, and the hairline itself were extremely pretty.” Genji pronounced that “she is one I would like to see when she grows