Our reading for Monday, September 20th is Ueda Akinari’s short story “Bewitched.” You can find a link to the text under the “Readings” tab on our blog. (It’s not in the anthology.) Please respond to one of the following questions about the text or respond to a comment made by a classmate.
1. Why do you think Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspects that she is a demon of some sort?
2. Why do you think people (both in the 18th century, when Akinari was writing, and in our own day) are attracted to ghost stories or tales of the supernatural?
3. Does “Bewitched” have anything to teach its readers? If so, what? What is Akinari’s message in this text?
4. The text describes Manago as”bewitchingly voluptuous.” What does the character of Manago tell us about feminine beauty?
Even after seeing that she is a demon, he gives her the benefit of the doubt because he wants to believe that she is real and can provide him with an ideal life. I think that the combination of being wanted and loved had a hold on Toyo-o. The second time Manago comes back, he knows she is a demon he finally breaks and accepts her demands. Toyo-o is not an independent man and cannot make decisions by himself, therefore when his sister approves Manago, it gives him the reassurance he was seeking and accepts her. Since she is one of the most beautiful women that Toyo-o has ever laid eyes on, it is hard for him to have self-control. Since he is ignorant and bliss by Manago’s beauty, he fails to see the true evil in the devil, until at the very end of the story.
Stacy, I completely agree you that Toyo-o in the story proves to be very dependent on everyone else but himself. I do think the approval of his sister towards Manago does give him reassurance to forgive Manago and be involved with her once again.
2. I think that people, both in the 18th century and in our own day, are attracted to ghost stories and tales of the supernatural because it allows us to imagine that there is a world beyond that of just humans. Listening and reading such supernatural tales allows us to escape the mundane, and sometimes even boring, world of humanity and dive into something more thrilling and interesting, something that we don’t see everyday. In regards to ghost stories, I think the idea that there is a possibility of rebirth after death may appeal to some people. Instead of us just dying and never to be seen again, ghost stories show us that the deceased can still walk among the living, that they are still around even though they are dead. For those that maybe have lost a loved one or for those that don’t like the idea of being gone forever, ghost stories may help with the reassurance that one will not be completely gone after death.
I agree with this comment. I think that reading about something that we might not find in reality is interesting. Ghost stories show the creativity of the author and how their minds think. It is like a horror movie in literature.
I also do believe that being assured from a story that a dead loved one might actually be “alive” through a spirit. For some, it might be a bit of comfort.
Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago because he had a strong relationship with her when they first met. Also, he never got respect and love from his family, which made him love Manago more. Manago was a beautiful woman that Toyo-o loves until she becomes a demon in which Toyo-o does not realize because he accepted her beauty. Toyo-o never made the right decision when he loved Manago since his sister decided for him without realizing who she was. When Toyo-o suspected that Manago was acting strange, he founds out that she was a demon and decided that she was not good for him.
I think you are right to tie Toyo-o’s susceptibility to Manago to his relationship with his own family. Perhaps their rejection has left him overly hungry for attention or approval from other sources.
1. Why do you think Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspects she is a demon of some sort?
I think Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspects she is a demon of some sort because Manago is such a beautiful woman in his eyes and she is also the first woman who he had a relationship of some sort, she tells him everything he wants to hear and he can’t get enough it. Manago fools the people surrounding him as well like his sister and I think this just gives him more of a reason to trust her and therefore be involved with him.
2. Why do you think people (both in the 18th century, when Akinari was writing, and in our own day) are attracted to ghost stories or tales of the supernatural?
I believe people both in the 18th century and in our own day are attracted to ghost stories because it gives us a sense of entertainment or filling the gap of the unknown. When a loved one we know passes away, years later something happens like we see them in our dreams telling us something, it gives a sense of comfort and helps us know that person we care for is somewhere safe. We can also say ghost stories attract people because they are well-written stories and adds the question, is this ghost story I am reading real? It adds more of this uneasy atmosphere and sense of wonder.
Hi Panagis,
I agree with you that tales of the supernatural allow for entertainment. I liked how you include the part about giving us a sense of comfort, especially when loved ones that passed away tend to visit us in our dreams. Like I mentioned in my own response, human beings are naturally curious, which is why I enjoyed how you stated that supernatural tales/ghost stories tend to make us wonder if it is real or not.
The story “Bewitched” teaches the reader to not judge people based solely on their appearance; instead, get to know a person beyond what they see. Akinari wants people to know that looks can be deceiving no matter how good-looking the person may seem to be. Toyo-o was deceived by Manago’s beauty in which he describes her as “bewitchingly voluptuous.” Listening to her sad story making her look like a fragile girl, he constantly feels pity towards her and is attracted to her beauty even though she is a demon. Toyo-o majority of the time, is attracted to her despite knowing she is a demon. Maybe the reason he is willing to forgive her and be with her is because he doubts his own thoughts and is constantly swayed by her, especially by her beauty, and others around him. Only at the end does he become free from her when a shaman kills her. Making the moral of the story is to not judge people based on appearance; instead, go beyond the looks and get to know a person.
Why do you think people (both in the 18th century, when Akinari was writing, and in our own day) are attracted to ghost stories or tales of the supernatural?
I think people in the 18th century and in our own day are attracted to ghost stories or tales of the supernatural, because it gives people an explanation for the unknown. Human beings are naturally very curious, so when things occur we want to understand why and how they occur. Tales of the supernatural allow us to form ideas as to why things occur, thus satisfying our curiosity and need for knowledge. Furthermore, ghost stories and tales of the supernatural provide an escape from our normal and boring lives. I believe people find happiness and entertainment in tales of the supernatural, because it is simply fun to imagine and ponder what the world could be like if the rules of science and matter did not exist.
2. Why do you think people (both in the 18th century, when Akinari was writing, and in our own day) are attracted to ghost stories or tales of the supernatural?
I believe people in the 18th century or today are attracted by the ghost stories or tales of the supernatural because it helps expand people’s creativity. People would think of the impossible and put it all together in a movie or story. The features of the supernatural help people to expand their creativity in the storyline. We know that we can’t fly, teleport, transform into some other figure, etc… Some people might even dream of having superpowers, but once they come back to reality, they are just ordinary humans. However, all these things could happen in a movie or story; which is why I think people are attracted to ghost stories/supernatural.
Hi Wendy, I agree with your ideas and just wanted to add on to your creativity standpoint. I think people are attracted to these ghost stories and tales of the supernatural because not only does it fuel creativity, but I think it also just makes life a little bit more interesting. We’re already used to having scientific explanations to alot of things that happen around us but with things like ghosts and supernatural beings, there aren’t many reasonable conclusions. With the possibility of ghosts and supernatural beings present, people can find entertainment in creating their own theories and beliefs.
Hi Wendy, I like your post! good job. In addition to your post I wanted to add some things. I believe ethics and morals weren’t placed in 18th century society. However these tales were basically discussing reality versus supernatural. It definitely made life a little more interesting and lead to different entertainment.
What do you think Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspects that she is a demon of some sort?
At this point in time, 18th century i think many people listen and attract to these stories because people understand morals and ethics within each other. From current learnings, we are taught what is right from wrong and good from the bad. We help many people grow and are well treated from applying that. In the past, Many of tales were told that would prevent deviant activity.
Why do you think Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspects that she is a demon of some sort?
I think Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspects that she is a demon of some sort is due to his desire to become something more. I think his desire for culture and academic in the big city of Kyoto makes him ignorant of the facts that Manago is a demon. He is attracted to what Manago represents such as the bigger life he wants for himself. Also, after he saw for himself when she disappears from thin air, he still believed the story Manago told him. His attraction to her, since she is one of the most beautiful women that Toyo-o has ever laid eyes on, made him ignorant to the fact she was a demon. He is so caught up in her looks and her appear that it made him ignore the facts.
Anne – Thanks for adding in that detail about Toyo-o wanting “a bigger life” for himself and connecting his vulnerability to Manago to that desire.
The text describes Manago as”bewitchingly voluptuous.” What does the character of Manago tell us about feminine beauty?
I believe that Manago is definitely following the “femme fatale” trope. Women throughout history have been demonized and punished for their good looks and femininity through the association of evil and destruction of the usual male protagonist. The witch, the siren, and Manago is an example of this trope in a supernatural sort of since, but we also see it in a lot of popular media. Regina George of “Mean Girls” is an example of this in a more contemporary approach. Regina George is beautiful and feminine, yet she is the villain, ruthless and popular. Cadey Heron, the protagonist, slowly starts losing herself when she starts acting more feminine throughout the story. This is sort of the opposite of what happens in “Bewitched.” The protagonist Toy-o starts off being described as feminine with good looks, but he is also a burden to his family. This is what attracts the demon, Manago. It isn’t until he becomes less feminine at the end of the story and more masculine, taking accountability for himself and wrestling the demon, that we see him succeed in the end and progress. Therefore, this story tells us that feminine beauty is something evil, and if you fall for it, you are likely to fall to an impending doom.
I meant *sense instead of since in the second sentence.
I think most people in the 18th century and in our own day are interested in ghost stories or the genre supernatural because it takes place in a setting that is similar to our own world or some aspects of real-life but with a small twist that changes a small aspect of our real life. The twist can be anything from mythical beings, unnatural abilities, or anything that are not normal in our lives. People who are also attracted to this genre can allow self insert as its setting have similarity to real life, but destroy the mundane life of our day-to-day life by adding the twist.
2. Why do you think people (both in the 18th century, when Akinari was writing, and in our own day) are attracted to ghost stories or tales of the supernatural?
Because it’s very exciting to imagine things you haven’t actually experienced and things you haven’t seen. Stories that are different from reality are very interesting because the ending is unpredictable. So this story brought imagination and interest to people in 18century in Japan.
You don’t need to copy the question when you post your response!