Summary Of The Tale Of Genji By Murasaki Shikibu

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Another story from the East was “The Tale of Genji” by Murasaki Shikibu in 1000 C.E. The author was a woman of the Japanese court and her story, perhaps the world’s first novel, portrays courtly life in medieval Japan. The story teams with polygamy: the emperor is married, yet keeps three consorts. Also, the hero of this story, Genji, is married yet has no problem having relations with one of the emperor’s consorts, Fujistsubo, as well as several other women. This excerpt from the story tells of the blossoming relationship between Genji and Fujistubo. Genji is obviously the dominant one in this situation; he has relations with her while drunk and despite her initial refusal and fear. This type of behavior certainly would not go over well