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David Golombek\\
21F.030\\
Journal \#2\\
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Several characters in Tale of Genji exhibit mono no aware as a part of
their core personality.  As will be mentioned throughout this paper,
Genji himself has a high level of sensitivity to the feelings of
others and a strong artistic sense.  Although he frequently twists
these feelings for his own goals, it is this empathy with other people
that makes him so irresistible to women and men alike (in addition to
his beautiful looks).  That this greater degree of empathy is usually
associated with women makes Genji seem very feminine at times, but his
sexual aggressiveness is more typically male, especially for the time
period (with the unusual exception of Naishi).  

The death of Aoi in the ``Heartvine'' chapter is an occasion for mono
no aware to seize many of the characters of the novel.  Genji in
particular shows a sudden appreciation for his wife and an
understanding of what harm his careless actions have done.  He becomes
concerned with Aoi's serving staff and those around her, wanting to
ease their pain at Aoi's passage.  He goes through a set of personal
revelations that leave him somewhat changed.  He tries to isolate
himself to straighten his thoughts out, but in the end his social
impulses drag him forth again to talk to more people.  Genji's
conversations with others about Aoi's death are always punctuated by
tears, as Genji exposes his thoughts and memories of his wife and
apologizes for his prior poor behavior.  In all, it is a sad time for
everyone, with the Princess Omiya being so affected that she too is
taken to bed.  Overall, every major character of the book mentioned at
that point is overtaken by this great grief and sensitivity, as this
woman who was previously presented in a mostly negative, cold, light
is now suddenly presented in a much more favorable fashion.  On the
occasion of other deaths in the novel, and during the frequent
ceremonies featured in the novel, similar fits of universal empathy
are experienced by all characters portrayed as likely to experience
them.

This distinction between characters who feel empathy towards other
characters, and those who seem to think only of themselves is the
dividing line between the good and bad characters of the novel.  For
all his indiscretions and poor actions, Genji is a distinctly good
character, having a strong suite of mono no aware.  Characters such as
lady of the Kokiden Pavilion who care only for their own brood and are
hostile towards all others are the featured bad people.  Their selfish
feelings prevent them from feeling the empathy towards others
necessary for mono no aware that is present in all good characters.  

That Genji is described as the ideal man in a novel written by a woman
suggests that she found the more typically male traits of detachment
and resolution less appealing, and was looking for a more sympathetic
personality in her ideal man.  That Genji was amazingly beautiful no
doubt helped (especially with forgiveness of his many indiscretions),
but his empathic understanding of people seems to be a more important
feature.  His extraordinary artistic abilities may be traced in part
back to this great empathy.  In addition to having great musical and
theatrical abilities, he was able to judge the proper words and
actions to use to most effectively manipulate his audiences emotions.
That he is frequently noted as being able to bring tears to the eyes
of the emperor is a testament to his skill, as are the frequent poems
inserted throughout the text, which he is able to create on the fly as
part of conversation.  Even random womanly skills that he picks up are
suitable for great praise, because it was so rare for a man to have
acquired them.  For example, ``He even prepared medicine for her.  The
women were filled with admiration.  When had he learned to be so
useful?'' [p164].  Genji's willingness to express his emotions and
open his heart draws even further praise, ``Tears came to his eyes as
he looked into the lamplight.  They made him if anything handsomer,
thought the women'' [p175].  The ideal woman is primarily
distinguished by her great beauty, although poetic and artistic
abilities are also in high praise.  Most of the qualities of mono no
aware are presupposed of all women, and thus not commented on.

Genji is a great lover because of his great beauty and amazing
artistic ability.  As a person, most of the women are greatly pained
by his actions, and he rarely treats his lovers with real respect.
However, women are still drawn to him, and willingly fall for his
charms, so great is his beauty.  

The primary indication that this is a woman's novel is the extreme
characterization of those people in it, rather than a focus on plot,
and its emphasis on Genji's role as a lover.  Similarly, the focus of
each character description is about their interpersonal relationships,
rather than their accomplishments, a common distinction in evaluating
people.  

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