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?
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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?
I think that Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspects her of being a demon because she is able to persuade him and others around her to not see her as dangerous. For example, this can be noticed in the lantern shop scene. When Toyo sees her and calls her a demon in front of everyone else, she is able to rationally explain what has actually happened in the abandoned house and persuade everyone to have pity on her. Afterward, she was able to take over Tomiko’s body and make it seem like she actually is Tomiko. It seems that in all of the occurrences when Toyo-o stays with Manago, she tricks him in some way to do so.
3. Does “Bewitched” have anything to teach its readers? If so, what? What is Akinari’s message in this text?
In the short story “Bewitched”, by Ueda Akinari we can infer that the main reason behind the writing of the story was to teach the readers a few lessons. At the being of the story, we have a young man named Toyo-0, he was devoted to studying the ways of his culture and learning with priests. On the other hand, his older brother was doing what a real man should do which was helping his father and family, by assisting his father in his successful business. Throughout the story it is clear that Toyo-o’s family has no respect for him and wants any reason to get him out of the house, they even go as far as to report him to the authorities for a crime he didn’t commit. In the story, Toyo-o is seen as a young man who can not control his lust and temptations. Even after he believes that this “woman” he is in love with is actually a devil he still goes back to her. Toward the end of the story, he is told that the only way he could beat this devil is by becoming more manly and don’t give in to his temptations of lust. Further, Toyo-o has a realization that it was due to him not following in his older brother’s footsteps that got him into this situation. I believe that the short story teaches us many lessons the first being that Akirni is expressing, that to be considered a true man, one must not give in to his temptations while remaining strong-minded, and he must respect his family by working the family business. Through the play, she showcases what happens if you don’t uphold these standards and do as you please. Lastly, the story teaches us that our actions have consequences and that it can even mean that the people closest to us suffer due to our actions.
3. Does “Bewitched” have anything to teach its readers? If so, what? What is Akinari’s message in this text?
I believe that “Bewitched” teaches its readers a main lesson, which is that we should not judge a book by its cover. What I mean by this is just because somebody looks breathtaking on the outside, doesn’t mean they are the same way on the inside. This was displayed between Toyo-o and Manago, as Toyo-o felt attracted to her almost instantly, as he had no second thoughts about her. However, as the story progresses and he finds out that she is in fact a demon, and what was shown on the outside doesn’t display who she truly is.
4. The text describes Manago as”bewitchingly voluptuous.” What does the character of Manago tell us about feminine beauty?
In the description of Manago as “bewitchingly voluptuous”, this can be interpreted as seeing her beauty as so inticing that it comes over him like a curse,or uncontrolling for him to be attracted to Manago.
The text describes Manago as”bewitchingly voluptuous.” What does the character of Manago tell us about feminine beauty?
The character of Mangao tells us that feminine beauty is powerful especially against unmanly man as it can make a man weak. Feminine beauty in the story is seen as something to beware because it is too good to be true. Manago uses her feminine beauty to lure in and subdue Tayo-o and those around him to later on try to kill them. She also ends up killing two people by the end of the story making her and thereby feminine beauty dangerous as well.
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 suspecting she is a demon because of her physical beauty and manipulation. When he first sees Manago, he describes her as “bewitchingly voluptuous”. He is clearly attracted to her beauty and that is a large reason why he fell in love with her and agreed to marry her before he began to suspect that she was a demon. When Manago reappears and finds Toyo-o after he moved in with his sister, she even manages to convince his sister and her husband that she is being genuine. Her beauty combined with her manipulation makes it difficult for him to oppose her. Another reason he continues to be involved with her is the fact that Toyo-o does not want to continue being lonely and reliant on his family. His father does not think that Toyo-o is responsible/tough enough to be in charge of his own money, so he always has to be monitored by either his father or older brother. It is shown that Toyo-o is unhappy in his situation when he tells Manago that he wishes to marry her but is dependent on his parents and does not own property, so he cannot accept her proposal immediately. Since he is unhappy, he wants to believe that Manago is in fact not a demon, and could just be his wife.
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?
Storytelling of the supernatural was used to entertain the crowds of the time who were curious about the mysterious and scary. Most of the time, supernatural stories had a lesson in the end for the listener to absorb in keep them from either doing reckless activities at night or disobeying their parents. In modern times, the Supernatural is fantasized about rather than feared due to Hollywood doing a great job of displaying supernatural characters. It makes people fantasize about the unattainable, mysterious world of fantasy and power.
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?
In the Akirni story and in present-day despite the 300-year difference writers and people are still fascinated by the supernatural for many different reasons. In the Story “Bewitched” the male protagonist falls in deep entrapment for a woman who has powers unlike anyone has seen before. The whole illusion of the supernatural is to fulfill a fantasy of worlds better than the ones we live in. Personally, I think the supernatural gives people an excuse to think of entities such as vampires and werewolves are real. Especially in times of sadness and evaluation, people use these stories to help give them an escape from reality. People were attracted to these stories even in the 18th century to elevate their own creative thinking of life. During this creative time in history, writers and artists like Akirni used the ideas of the supernatural to capture their own creative thinking and styles. Other artists like Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley, etc.. All adopted this writing genre to transform an alternate universe like ours and create life unlike any other. The Genre has only grown over the years and has evolved throughout different time periods and artists.
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?
There are 3 incidents in which Toyo becomes involved with Manago in varying ways, but of which all has to do with his characteristics. In the beginning of the tale he was involved with Manago because he was attracted by her beauty. Even though he had known that there never lived such a beautiful lady in their village he disregarded that fact and fell for Manago which led him to get into trouble as she stole treasures from the shrines. In the second incident he was not manly enough to say no when Manago came before him again. In the text during Toyo visit to his married sister’s house in Nara the devil Manago stops by their store and grabs the attention of Toyo’s sister and her husband who both feel pity for her, thus they take her in and become persuaded by her story about her search for Toyo and their love. They then encourage Toyo to continue the relationship with Manago. At this point of the story Toyo is already aware that Manago is a devil of a creature but regardless he obliges and goes into a relationship once more. This shows that Toyo did not stand his ground firmly even after getting in trouble with Manago the devil beforehand he became tangled again with her. If he had been manly he would have stood his ground and not so carelessly forget the things that Manago made him go through. Lastly Toyo comes into contact with Manago again but this time the devil takes over the body of the general’s daughter who is married to Toyo. The devil explains that he is attracted to Toyo handsomeness and would not leave him. The devil threatened that he would kill Toyo if he tried to gain another lover. In this last incident Toyo is again involved with Manago due to the fact that he is handsome and soft. His softness is what made him so easy to deceive and repeatedly get taken advantage of. At last Toyo tells himself that he cannot rely on others anymore and with his efforts takes on the devil on his own with the help of the priest they were able to finish the devil off.
. Why do you think Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspects that she is a demon of some sort?
In my opinion Toyo-o continues to welcome in Manago because of his lack of courage and character. In this short story the main character Toyo-o is described as a young man who is struggling to find his strengths and spirit which caused him to be an easy target for Manago. By him not having these character traits it allows others to fool him easily and have him be very persuaded just like Manago did. I would also say that he is a man who would rather go along with what others say just to please them rather than standing up for what he believes. I say this because the second time Toyo-o encounters Manago he knows that she is evil but allows his sister and brother-in-law to persuade him and follow along with their wishes. All of these things combined are the reason why Toyo-o keeps on welcoming Manago into his life.
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?
As a reader, it is fun to enter a supernatural world where you can explore something new. When you have been taught lessons that have been indoctrinated in all of society for an eternity to the point where you have to believe them faithfully, there comes a time when part of you wonders if the grass is greener on the other side. People in history needed that escape to search for what they truly desired other than what they were prescribed to desire in their lives. If we look inward, like Toyo-o eventually did, we can see things individually for ourselves to better ourselves.
The text describes Manago as”bewitchingly voluptuous.” What does the character of Manago tell us about feminine beauty?
The text describes Manago as “bewitchingly voluptuous” showing the readers that she is extremely beautiful. So beautiful to the point that is dangerous to be around her. In the story, Manago’s beauty has been a tool for her. A tool that is used to control the men around her and eventually killing people. The story warns the readers about beauty and to not be blinded by it.
The text describes Manago as”bewitchingly voluptuous.” What does the character of Manago tell us about feminine beauty?
This story tells us that feminine beauty is not always good, there was a quote “The more beautiful, the more dangerous.” The man is attracted by her beauty, but he forgets to understand the inner part of a person. Sometimes the person who is beautiful and glamorous on the surface is not like that on the inside, just like in the story, although she is very beautiful and seductive, at the same time, she is also the devil who makes you fall into hell. People can’t be attracted by mere outward appearance, they have to be alert to everything.
Why do you think Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspects that she is a demon of some sort?
Toy-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspect that she was a demon because of how he was captivated by her beauty at first in which he fell in love with her. But, after he found out she was a demon he wasn’t manly enough so he was easily manipulated by her. In the end, I would say Toy-o’s lack of courage allowed him to be manipulated on how he couldn’t stand up for himself but be easily fooled by others.
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?
Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspects that she is a demon of a sort, because of his lack of courage, throughout the story he is described as someone who is almost an outcast to his family, wanting to pursue something that is not in his family’s usual path, he struggles to find his path, and becomes an easy target for Manago. It also helps that Toyo-o finds Manago extremely attractive as she is from the place he dreams of going to, while the story progresses we find Toyo-o not able to leave her because he wasn’t “Manly” enough, his softness is easy to deceive making him be such an easy target from Manago.
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 the reason that Toyo-o continues to be involved with Manago even after he suspected that she is a demon was because of his childhood experiences and the culture background at the time. Japanese man were expected to support their family however we know that Toyo-o does not have any interest toward family business nor does he want to rely on his family. Therefore in his viewpoint Manago seems to be the perfect person that could help him get away from all of this.