Naomi (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Jun’ichirō Tanizaki
- First Published: 1924
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Fiction of manners
- Time of Work: 1918-1926
- Setting: Tokyo, Japan, and surrounding areas
- Genres: Long fiction
- Subjects: Love or romance, Sex or sexuality, Twentieth century, Adultery, Japan or Japanese people, East and West, Tokyo
- Locales: Tokyo, Japan
Characters Discussed
Joji Kawai, a wealthy engineer from the countryside, an insecure man of twenty-eight when he meets and falls in love with Naomi in Tokyo. Lonely and bored, he is attracted by Naomi’s Eurasian appearance and decides to develop her into the perfect, modern woman. He persuades her to move in with him; sends her to English, music, and dance classes; buys her clothes; and indulges her various whims. Gradually, he realizes that she is unfaithful, manipulative, and no longer under his control. He kicks her out of their home but later takes her back on her terms,...
[The entire page is 592 words long]
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