Five Women Who Loved Love: Analysis of Major Characters
"Five Women Who Loved Love" explores the intricate lives and tragic fates of several characters entwined in love and desire within a historical context. The narrative centers on Seijuro, a young apprentice who falls in love with his master’s sister, Onatsu, leading to a series of unfortunate events marked by miscommunication and societal pressures. After their elopement ends in tragedy, Onatsu suffers a mental breakdown and retreats to a nunnery.
Other characters include Osen, who faces dire consequences after seeking revenge for wrongful accusations, and Chozaemon, whose own guilt leads to his execution. The story further delves into Osan and Rin, whose plan to punish a lover results in unexpected love and their eventual demise. Oshichi's romantic yearning leads to her tragic decision to set a fire, culminating in her execution, while Onogawa, her beloved, is left to grapple with her death.
Lastly, Gengobei's complex relationships with Hachijuro and Oman illustrate themes of love and redemption, as he ultimately leaves his monastic life for a chance at happiness. The work portrays love as a powerful yet often destructive force, navigating the consequences of passion against the backdrop of societal norms.
Five Women Who Loved Love: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Ihara Saikaku
First published: Kshoku gonin onna, 1686 (English translation, 1956)
Genre: Short fiction
Locale: Japan
Plot: Love
Time: Seventeenth century
Seijuro, a handsome young man apprenticed to a shopkeeper. Reluctantly, he returns the love of his master's sister. They elope and are discovered. Wrongly convicted of stealing money (actually mislaid), Seijuro is executed.
Onatsu, the shopkeeper's sister, who is in love with Seijuro. After his execution, she goes mad for a time and later enters a nunnery.
Osen, the young wife of a cooper. Wrongly accused of adultery by Chozaemon's wife, she takes impulsive revenge by actually giving herself to him. Discovered by her husband, she commits suicide.
Chozaemon, a yeast maker and Osen's partner in adultery, suspected and real. When his guilt is discovered, he is executed.
Osan, a wife whose scheme to punish her maid's reluctant lover by taking the maid's place in bed runs counter to plan. She falls in love with him herself; after a period of hiding together in a distant village, they are found and executed.
Rin, Osan's maid. She is a party to the scheme by which her lover is supposed to be punished.
Moemon, a clerk and Rin's reluctant lover, who is the victim of the substitution. He falls in love with Osan. When caught, they are executed.
Oshichi, a young woman. Having taken refuge in a temple after her house burned down, she falls in love with Onogawa, whom she meets there. Later, unable to see him, she decides to arrange another meeting by setting a fire. Discovered, she is burned at the stake.
Onogawa Kichisaburo, a young samurai whom Oshichi loves. Learning of her death, he contemplates suicide but finally becomes a monk.
Gengobei, a Buddhist monk and a former pederast.
Hachijuro, now dead, a boy whom Gengobei loved.
Oman, a young girl in love with Gengobei. Disguising herself as a boy, she wins Gengobei's love. He leaves the priest-hood to live with her and later to marry her.