Japenese Literature Assignment: Atsumori Commentary

Colin Franken
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hour 4
5 May 2009

"Life is a lying dream, he only wakes
who casts the world aside.
I am Kumasai no Naozane, a man of the country of
Musashi. I have left my home and called myself the
priest Rensei; this I have done because of my grief
at the death of Atsumori, who fell in battle by my
hand. Hence it comes that I am dressed in priestly guise.
And now I am going down to ichi no tani to pray
for the salvation of Atsumori's soul.
I have come so fast that here I am already at Ichi no
tani, in the country of Tsu.
Truly the past returns to my mind as though it were
a thing of today."
(Motokiyo. 1-13.)

This passage is from the first 13 lines of the Play "Atsumori" by Seami Motokiyo. It introduces characters and explains the situation of Atsumori's death. "This I have done because of my grief/at the death of Atsumori, who fell in battle by my/hand." (Motokiyo. 5-7.) Motokiyo is trying show grief and care through this passage. He achieves this by using characterization, metaphor, and simile.

Characterization is used to give an idea of how the character Kumasai no Noazane has a roll in this play. "I am Kumasai no Naozane, a man of the country of/Musashi." (Motokiyo. 3-4.) He introduces himself and explains the situation of what's happening. Characterization is also used to describe what kind of person Kumasai is through the imagery of his attire, “Hence it comes that I am dressed in priestly guise." (Motokiyo. 7.) This describes how he is dressed like a priest and portrays him as a gentle character.

Metaphor is used to explain Kumasai no Naozane's perspective on life. One metaphor expresses a deep meaning, which reflects on the belief of Kumasai, “Life is a lying dream, he only wakes who casts the world aside." (Motokiyo. 1-2.) This shows that he thinks many people sleep through their lives and if they woke up and saw more of the world than what meets the eye, they could live up to their full spiritual potential. This is used to make one think of the importance of life and how Kumasai values it.

The use of simile shows how Kumasai no Naozane's thoughts are brought back from Atsumori's death. He shows that he still cares a lot for his friend that he lost and remembers every detail of it. "Truly the past returns to my mind as though it were/a thing of today."(Motokiyo. 12-13.) The simile is comparing the past with the present; tying it in with characterization, which shows Kumusai as a caring person who mourns for his good friend.

This passage introduces the play, which expresses the author’s purpose. It shows the situation that the main character, Kumasai no Naozane, is in and describes his feelings that he has for Atsumori. Motokiyo portrays care and grief by using characterization, metaphor, and simile. These devices escalate the meaning of this passage and open it up to what will come further in the play.