Some Prefer Nettles (Masterplots II: World Fiction Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Jun’ichirō Tanizaki
- First Published: 1928
- Type of Work: Psychological realism
- Time of Work: March through June, 1929
- Setting: Osaka, Awaji, Kobe, and Kyoto
- Principal Characters: Kaname, Misako, Hiroshi, Misako’s Father, O-Hisa, Hideo Takanatsu
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction
- Subjects: Marriage, Prostitution or prostitutes, 1920’s, Adultery, Divorce, Puppets or puppet plays, Japan or Japanese people, East and West, Tokyo
- Locales: Japan, Kyoto, Japan, Osaka, Japan, Awaji, Japan, Kobe, Japan
The Novel
In the first of what may be regarded as the novel’s four main parts (chapters 1-3), the unhappy and taciturn couple dress in traditional kimono, take train and taxi to downtown Osaka, and then join Misako’s father and O-hisa at the Benten Theater to view the puppet play The Love Suicides at Amijima. While Kaname has accepted the invitation in order to ensure one filial act before his father-in-law is informed of the couple’s marital discord, he becomes intrigued by the play and the puppets, especially that of the heroine—a kind of prototype of...
[The entire page is 1822 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
