![]() ![]() With his pregnant wife and three daughters Toson left and moved to Minami Toshima-gun in to complete his work. They agreed, and Toson quit his job as a teacher. Writing Toson's The Broken Commandment was completed under impecunious circumstances.Īfter the idea of the novel was formulated, Toson approached his father-in-law, Hata Keiji, and a wealthy landlord, Kozu Takeshi, asking for their support in his full-time writing of the novel. It attempts to build understanding and empathy for this group of people at a time (the novel's publication's) when a great deal of prejudice still existed towards this group. 1 Comparison with Shakespeare's play is one method we can use to interpret this complex work. Published in 1906 with unprecedented critical acclaim for the lowly novelistic genre, Shimazaki's Hakai (The Broken Commandment) remains foundational for further developments in the genre in Japan, as well as providing an important cultural memory of the Meiji period. This novel also touches on the dangerous, destructive nature of gossip, and questions society's inability to accept what is not understood. ![]() Ushimatsu wishes to reveal his background to Rentarou, as his need to hide away part of himself in order to be accepted by society in general leads to his feeling constricted by this superficial identity, and to his desiring to form a more meaningful connection with Rentarou through their common experience. ![]() Ushimatsu idolizes Rentarou Inoko, a burakumin rights' activist and successful writer (particularly considering the social position given to those considered burakumin). He is never to reveal his burakumin background, which his father had tried so hard to conceal as well.
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