A daily life which is full of corrupt competitiveness grows intensely within the ladies, while the Emperor‘s driven by his emotion easily. Lady Kokiden who is
filled with jealousy of the emperor‘s love for Kiritsubo, Sheledmost of the malice deeds toward the unfortunate lady. Many bad things are done upon Lady
Kiritsubo. The Emperor cannot do something to help his beloved Lady. For now, what he can do is just waiting for the announcement from the court for he had
increase the rank of Lady Kiritsubo not for long ago, butit is too late. The lovely lady Kiritsubo‘s already sinking in her own great distress. Then, not for a long
time, her condition becomes worse and at last, she meets her death. If only he is not blinded by his affection and take consideration of
surrounding and circumstance that his wives have to go through, his marriage will not get a tragic end. It‘s his own personal quality for being ignorant, unrealistic,
and easy to be driven by emotional feeling that turns his marriage into a sad, full of miseries and violent marriage life, which is ended with the beloved lady‘s death.
2. The Description of Genjis Character and Marriages in Relation to their
Marriage Life
Genji, the son of the Emperor with Lady Kiritsubo, his characteristics description can be found in the story. It can be seen from what Genji says, his
attitudes or behaviors and also from what the other characters say or response toward Genji. For example, in Aoi
Chapter, at the moment after Lady Aoi‘s death, Aoi‘s servants gather and talk to genji for the last time about their sadness of
Aoi‘s death and the uncertainty of their future to Genji,
―I do not forget my friends so easily as that. If there are any among you who, mindful of the past, wish still to serve in this house, they may count
upon it that so long as I live I shall never desert them.‖ and as he sat gazing into the lamplight, with tears aglitter in his eyes, they felt they were
fortunate indeed in having such a protector. Shikibu, 2010: 175
Actually, it‘s not his responsibility to take care of all servants of Aoi‘s quarter. As after his wife‘s death he must leave from his father-in-law‘s house, where he
supposed to live with Aoi, and has to go back to his own house. Genji‘s words in the quota
tion show that he can be dependable person and otherscharacters‘ response show that he is a kindhearted person who is still protecting those
servants even though it‘s his duty no more. Besides dependable and kindhearted, Genji is also described as a
sympathetic, thoughtful or considerate, and realistic person. Those qualities of him can be seen in his acts and some of his decision he made in his life. He is a
thoughtful person for he is so considerate in every decision he made. Like in the time when h
e has to manage his own off spring‘s future and help some unfortunate children who have no protector, he is trying so hard to find and make
a way for them to have a secure life in court. Not only searching for the best possibility for their future but he a
lso put full consideration on those children‘s feeling and even take the pain to explain and discus the future plan with them and
willing to comfort them. Besides, most of those personal qualities are best described in the way he is dealing with his wives and ladies of his household.
Compared to the Emperor‘s Genji‘s father description in the previous part, these characteristics of Genji are seen as the better personalities that bring
success, especially in marriage life, but still both of them have to deal with the
existing social circumstance. As the story begins in the first chapter of the novel, there is a brief description about situation that Genji must face. He could be the
one who get the position on the throne but the emperor cannot choose him bec
ause of his mother‘s low rank. Then, Genji is set to become a commoner and put in an established clan known as Minamoto clan because of his lack of family
back up. It is done in order to help Genji so that he can stay in the court. In this situation, Genji shall begin his marriage life in his early ages twelve years old in
an arranged marriage made by the emperor. His plan is to get Genji his own sponsor so that Genji can make his way in the court and help his father. His first
wife is Lady Aoi at her sixteenth, daughter of the Minister of the Left. Genji and Aoi start marriage life in young ages, yet no one tell them what to do or teach
them manner as husband and wife. It can be seen in Genji‘s words when he is in ill state yet Aoi does not give any att
ention or even worry toward him, ―Why are you so cold and distant and proud? Year after year we fail to reach an
understanding and you cut yourself off from me more completely than before. Can we not manage for a little while to be on ordinary terms?‖ Shikibu, 2010: 92.
Many misunderstanding happen between them due to their young age and inexperience. Aoi‘spride and her persistence of her scornfulness toward Genji
make it difficult for him to approach her. Here, he shows that one of his characteristics is
patient, for he manages in dealing with his wife‘s persistence for such a long time and still shows his devotion toward Lady Aoi. He even express
himself of his devotion and commitment of his marriage, it can be seen in the description in the novel about
Genji‘s feeling, ―after all, she was his wife;
moreover, despite all the difficulties that had risen between them he cared for her very much indeed.‖ Shikibu, 2010: 161. All his patient and understanding is not
for nothing, it lead him to a good future where he finally manages to make peace with Lady Aoi, and even she is success in delivering a baby boy for him,
eventhough she is in worse state due to a spirit possession she‘s experienced during the pregnancy. And not long after she gives birth, she faces her death, until
that moment, Genji always stays by her side although he has to go to the Great Hall for a time because of a duty he has to work on.
A further description of Genji‘s characteristics is found in his behavior toward surrounding especially to all gentlewomen.
He was also deeply touched by the conduct of the gentlewomen at Nijo-in, in whom he had formerly shown so little interest. He determined
henceforward to take more pains about them. He soon found himself so much occupied in paying small attentions to Miss Chujo, Madam
Nakatsukasa, and other good ladies of his household, that he scarcely ever had time to leave the house. He was also much taken up with the
rebuilding of a lodge which stood to the east of his palace, on an estate which had belonged to his father. He took great trouble over the work and
had the place put in splendid order, for it was his intention to lend it to unfortunate or unprotected persons, such as the lady at ―the village of
falling flowers,‖ whom he could best assist if he had them near at hand. Shikibu, 2010: 286
Here, He shows himself as sympathetic and thoughtful person. After he realizes that he does not give enough attention to the ladies of his household, he feels
guilty and tries to fix it right away, different with the emperor who does not give his attention to some of his ladies. Genji‘s aware of his ladies feeling and feel
sympathy for them he even tries his best to give attention because he supposes to have tight schedule. Those behavior he has, help him to manage the peace of his
marriage life so that the ladies feel just and well treated. Besides, he shows himself kindhearted and full of sympathy since he organizes a lodge to the
unfortunate ladies who he valued, such as the lady at ―the village of falling f
lowers.‖ She is Emperor‘s escort who is no more get visitation from the Emperor and Genji found her as a nice person to talk with and she makes him feel
comfortable to share story or discussing matter. This kind of act doesn‘t trigger any jealousy between his ladies because he really takes a good care to them and
even to the servant ladies too. After Lady Aoi, Genji‘s second wife who he cherished the most is Lady
Murasaki. Eventhough she is mentioned as Genji‘s wife, but originally, she cannot be called as his official wife since her low rank, she cannot deserve the title as
official wife like Lady Aoi. After Lady Aoi‘s death, Murasaki acts as the Chief Lady of the household. The other ladies give their respect toward her.
He meets Murasaki when she is still a mere infant at the temple where he has to go through a healing ritual for his health. He found himself captivated by
her beauty and also because her face is looked alike with Lady Fujitsubo, his step mother who is also his first love. He raises her in all best way. He thinks that to
build her become a good future wife, he has to educate her by himself. Murasaki indeedgrows into a great lady. She becomes the one who knows Genji more than
the other ladies and always attracts Genji day by day without failing. That becomes one of the reasons why Genji loves and admire this lady so much.
Genji‘s shown to be more open and more considerate with Murassaki.He shows himself being comfortable with her to speak his thought and discus some things
about many aspects. Most of the time he asks Murasaki‘s opinion about some
future plans of the household. He always gives deep consideration on her at happy or sad event. For example there is an important event that shows his consideration
toward Murasaki. He had not himself told Murasaki about the birth of his child at Akashi,
nor was it likely that anyone else would in so many words have done so. But he feared that some inkling of the matter might reach her, and he
finally made up his mind that it would be better for her to know all about it. Shikibu, 2010: 289
This is a moment where Genji has to inform Murasaki about his girl child
that he got from Lady Akashi while Genji is in his exile and separated from Murasaki. Of course it‘s difficult for him to reveal such an affair to his beloved
Lady. Here he is shown to be considerate with Murasaki‘s feeling in case she knows the news from other person. He knows Murasaki so well, as she is a kind
lady who likes children. Then he tells her by himself and manages to persuade her to bring the girl to the household to be raised by Murasaki instead of let her live in
a small province without any support and sponsor.He is being open with Murasaki and tells her the entire problem and the reason why he has to bring the child into
the house and he even admit his fault for having such an affair while in exile. And those are some of behavior and personalities of Genji that lead his marriage into a
peaceful marriage life especially with Murasaki where he always open and considerate.
Both Genji and Murasaki wish to live happily and manage a peaceful household.They do live happily for some moments until a day where he has to
Marry Princess Nyosan, daughter of his half-brother, the Emperor Suzaku. Suzaku
wants to start his retirement and ask Genji to marry his daughter for he find no one else is capable or have sufficient experience to be a protector of such a girl of
a high title. Genji and Murasaki cannot make their dream comes true for now Genji gains high social status for marrying a princess, and it indeed makes him
hard to keep Murasaki as a wife. But practically, since the princess is still a child, Murasaki has to take over the role as the chief lady who manages the house. Genji
knows that Murasaki looks fine, but inside her is a broken heart even though she can be sure for Genji‘s unchanging feeling toward her. The similarity between
Genji‘s and Emperor‘s marriage life is that in the end they have to deal with the prevailing social system of rank equality.
B. The Reflection of the Aristocratic Social Life in Heian era through the
