“Bewitched”

Throughout Akinari’s short story “Bewitched” the protagonist of the story, Toyo-o, is susceptible to the charm, and trickery of the antagonist, Manago. The image I chose is of a Japanese man barely clothed with one woman right beside him, and another woman hidden in the background. I found that this image corresponds to Akinari’s “Bewitched”, because throughout the story Manago’s maid is an accomplice to Manago. As Toyo-o comes to Manago’s house for his umbrella the maid introduces him and says, “The man who loaned you the umbrella yesterday was coming this way, so I invited him in.”. From this quote it can be seen that Manago’s maid is part of Manago’s plan all along when she welcomes him in. Another quote which makes it clear that Manago is not the only antagonist of the story is seen when Toyo-o’s family goes to “Mount Yoshino, where the chief priest was a friend of long standing.” And when the priest notices Manago and Maroya, who both deliberately turn their backs on the priest when they see him, the priest grumbles, “You devils!”. “Again you are bewitching and deceiving human beings. How can you dare assume that shape and form before my very eyes!”. From the last quote it is evident that the priest is particularly familiar with not only Manago, but her partner Maroya as well.