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Comparing Tale Of Genji And The Song Of Roland

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When comparing similar elements between the literary text of “The Tale of Genji” and “The Song of Roland” there is a common theme, and this theme is loyalty. Loyalty is a recurring theme in literature and often described as the commitment to someone or something and it plays a crucial role in portraying not only characters, but narratives in literature. In “The Tale of Genji” and “The Song of Roland” loyalty is represented differently due to the varying cultural backgrounds and settings. Exploring the themes of loyalty between the two texts gives a unique insight into the values upheld by the main characters. The main characteristics and themes of loyalty in “The Tale of Genji” pertain to fulfilling social expectations and obligations in Japan’s …show more content…

Roland, the main character, portrays loyalty to the whole of medieval Europe. He devotes himself to the king, his comrades, and also his Christianity. Roland demonstrates his undying loyalty by quite literally choosing to sacrifice himself in battle rather than betraying his king. Loyalty in this epic shows the true importance of staying true to one’s commitments even in the face of danger, such as the king and Christianity. Studying the themes of loyalty in these texts allowed a better understanding of how different cultures view loyalty and it’s importance in society. It demonstrates that loyalty is not only associated with personal morals, but is also connected to societal norms and beliefs. Comparing these portrayals of loyalty shows how cultural values can shape the expectations of loyalty. In Japan, loyalty is about maintaining social expectations and personal relationships. In medieval Europe, the theme is shown through honor and religion. However, even though the societal expectations of loyalty are different, the texts highlight the characters’ actions and how their loyalty is shaped within their respective

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Common themes include different values and beliefs that make up loyalty, the value of collectivism is jointly linked between the three sources. As well, numerous perspectives castigate the ideas of egocentricity and self-interests towards oneself. Finally, all sources have a degree of call-to-action on influencing the audience to be influenced to agree with the speaker or artist of the particular assigned source. As an audience and interpreter of the assigned source, one is able to various forms of loyalties: Class, cultural, and civic loyalties. The criticism of selfishness was expressed in both sources two and three.

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