Good Example Of Literature Review On The Love Suicides At Sonezaki

Tokubei and Ohatsu’s story is inspirational in its portrayal of the extent lovers will go to for the accomplishment of their love. However, although inspirational in nature, their actions and motivations are illogical if viewed in a sense of self-preservation. One of the bigger themes, honesty, is expressed in the story through both characters. This honesty, although oftentimes a good virtue, has become their undoing. Love preceded reason in their motivation, leading to them having thought of no other options for salvation aside from death.
Tokubei, had to face the choice of loving and marrying a woman of whom his uncle has decided for him. The woman, who was his uncle’s wife’s niece, was promised to Tokubei because of his dedication and honesty in their trade. His uncle, who was also his master, has treated Tokubei well and has reared him after his parent’s death. Being an orphan and considering that his master has offered him a considered amount as dowry, Tokubei should have agreed happily. However, because his heart belonged to another woman, he rejected the kind offer of his uncle and master. This was the turning point and one of the major life choices of Tokubei’s life. At this point, the safest option would have been to accept to accept his master’s offer and to live out his with his new wife, opening up his own business with the dowry given to him. By choosing this path, he would have had to give up on his love for Ohatsu: to leave her and forget about her in exchange for a more entitled and successful life. By doing so and by fulfilling his uncle’s wish, it would have served as his way of showing his gratitude for all the things his uncle has done for him. By choosing to do so, however, meant having to walk on a path of pain and deceit in exchange for a better life. This meant having to marry someone he does not love just to satisfy the wish of someone else. This is the most logical and safest choice for Tokubei, as he can always learn to love his wife in the future.
Tokubei’s naivety, honesty, and generosity led to him being swindled by a person he considered a friend for many years. After vehemently refusing his uncle’s marriage proposal and the subsequent arrangement made behind his back, Tokubei should have returned the money as soon as he got it back. Despite the circumstances that he had to face if he was not able to return the money, Tokubei willingly lent it to his friend Kuheiji who begged for Tokubei to save him from his predicament. This naivety of Tokubei led to him being tricked by Kuheiji who feigned ignorance of having ever borrowed from Tokubei. Had Tokubei decided not to give in to his friend’s request, Tokubei would have had the chance to live his life with Ohatsu despite being on bad terms with his uncle. Tokubei’s persistence on an honest and honorable life is betrayed by someone who meticulously schemed on taking Tokubei’s money. The motivation of such a scheme seems to be grounded on Ohatsu’s love, hinted at when Kuheiji declares that Ohatsu will be his soon. Even though Tokubei had refused the marriage proposed by his uncle and he had lost the money, at this point Tokubei still had the chance to rescind his refusal. This entails again having to give up his love for Ohatsu, and to accept the dishonor brought to him by Kuheiji. This would also mean having to set aside his pride and ask for his uncle’s forgiveness. Though his honor has been tarnished, it is something that he can work on to prove again to other people.
Seemingly, the choices made by Tokubei in the story reflect the most dangerous, culminating in both his and his lover’s deaths. Tokubei’s persistence on true love, despite having been presented a better future, has only led to his demise and subsequent death. This is not inherently Tokubei’s fault, as we have seen people who have done foolish things in pursuit of love. These actions border on the illogical and the foolish in its motivation. For example, Tokubei’s choice to refuse his uncle’s marriage proposal led to his step-mother being bribed into accepting on his behalf. This in turn led to his step-mother’s refusal to give the dowry back, and how Tokubei had to ask help from the whole village to persuade her. Tokubei’s foolishness, motivated by his love for Ohatsu, only led to him being betrayed by the people of whom he has trusted. This assumption of being able to do anything as long as you are together with the one you love is most often detrimental considering the consequences of their lives.
Aside from death, Tokubei and Ohatsu still had the option to run away and to leave everything behind. Despite everything that had happened to Tokubei and the disgrace he has to live with afterwards, they still had the chance to live their lives albeit in a very dangerous path. Considering how Tokubei still has a debt to pay his uncle, and of how Kuheiji is framing Tokubei for extortion, he will no doubt be branded a criminal. A life as a fugitive is wrought with hardship due to the dishonor that this will imprint on his name. This dishonor will lead to no one likely wanting to interact with him for fear of having ties with a criminal. One dangerous choice that Tokubei could have made is to forcefully extract the money that Kuheiji owes him. By getting the money back no matter the method, this will give him the chance to return what he owes his uncle. Afterwards, despite his being a fugitive, as long as he still lives and he is with the woman he loves, then they can still try to make everything work for the both of them. This option and choice would then have to be motivated with having to live with dishonor and with people treating them badly. This is in contrast with the way Tokubei has been living his life. He was honorable and honest to a fault. However, considering the logic of his choices for love, then he surely could have thought of still wanting to try this option. By focusing on the assumption that love can triumph over every hardship, Tokubei and Ohatsu’s fate would have met with a different outcome. Although this outcome might not be a very happy one, to live for the one you love is something one can bear in exchange for happiness no matter the form. However, considering that honor plays an influential part in their society and in Tokubei’s life, this dangerous path is something that he did not choose to do. Kuheiji, for example, can bear the dishonor he has brought upon himself by choosing to swindle his friend. Had Tokubei the same audacity as Kuheiji, then he could have made the more dangerous and illogical choice aside from death.
Tokubei and Ohatsu’s love and tragedy expresses how suicide and death are being romanticized. Oftentimes, people who are in love are unable to make and choose the safer routes for their lives. As with Tokubei, his insistence on truly loving someone led to him refusing a better future for him and his future wife. By sacrificing his love for one person, he could have made a lot more people happier. This is but one of the problems people face when they have to choose between their love and something else. Similar to Tokubei and Ohatsu’s decision to die together, lovers would often choose to stick by together despite how illogical their choice might be.