Analysis Of Bewitched By Ueda Akinari

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Recommended: Woman oppresion in literature

Anthony Fowler
V. Underwood
ENG109
February 9, 2014
Analysis of Bewitched by Ueda Akinari
Bewitched is a story about a naïve young man in 16th century Japan who falls in love with an unbelievably gorgeous woman who turns out to really be an evil spirit who possesses the bodies of beautiful women. This story tells a tale that holds a message to warn men and women in a misogynist fashion to beware their temptations and to act in the correct social norms. The fact the protagonist is a man and the antagonist is a female represents the patriarchy within the society for which the story was written. The story teaches the roles of men and women by contrasting characters who act appropriately to those who do not. The main protagonist and antagonist appear to have the characteristics of an improper man and woman, whereas all the other characters show the appropriate fashion they should act according to their gender.
The main characters meet after a mysteriously sudden rainfall where they both retreat into the same hut. The male protagonist, Toyo-o, is naïve young man who is drawn in quickly by the beauty of the antagonist, Manago. Despite his naiveté, he seems to understand some of the gender roles of a woman by observing the odd fact she was without a male escort. His knowledge of the gender roles for both women and men is obviously lacking, however, as he doesn’t think much of her other strange behaviors later on, nor does he appropriately take on his own personal duties as a man.
Throughout the story the author discusses how Toyo-o’s father and bigger brother scorn him for his irresponsibility and laziness, since he fails to take up any responsibility to help with the family business. This shows that, in the Japanese culture, a man is...

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...o him. This part in the story suggests such a thing is a feminine quality and that men should not worry about being good looking, but rather focus more on more manly qualities: especially that of prudence.
Toyo-o’s brother seems to represent many qualities of a good man. He makes the final decisions of the household, holding his judgment’s above that of even his mothers. He takes responsibility for his family business, and is able to take care of his family from his work. The women aren’t mentioned to take much part in the business, so it’s assumed to be mostly the man’s responsibility. These are qualities that Toyo-o seems to lack, which mostly seem to be qualities that are meant to keep men away from any feminine qualities so that they can hold power over them. This lack of such power is the reason why Toyo-o was so susceptible to Manago’s, or a woman’s, power.

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