Genji

There were definitely some slow parts in The Tale of Genji...At times I really wish there had been a more affective way of communicating other than sending short two lined poems back and forth by way of messenger. At first it seemed mysterious and interesting but then it became boring and I just wanted to get on with the story.
The story picks back up when Genji meets up with the lower class woman. He has been talking to her for a long time and has been wavering the whole story as to whether or not he should pursue her. He questions his feelings and can't believe that he is attracted so much to her. At this point in the story the reader finally sees that Genji has the capability of having more than a superficial relationship with a woman. Even after he sleeps with another woman in the palace, he wakes up in the morning saying "Though loath to be taxed with seeking fresher blooms, I feel impelled to pluck this morning glory." Genji straight up tells her that he is looking for someone new and "fresh". This new person is the lower class woman, she is not amazingly beautiful and she is not that educated but she is something entirely different than all the other women Genji has been around, and Genji becomes greatly attracted to her.
I felt extreme sympathy for Genji when the girl that he loved tragically died. He felt that it was his fault that she died, because of the evil spirits of his dreams. After all the talk of not being able to find a woman that is worthy to be married in the beginning of the book, Genji finally finds a woman that he is pleased with and actually loves! Yet he doesn't ever really get to solidify this love and enjoy it...it is taken from him before he gets a chance to make something of it. I sympathize with Genji over the loss of loved ones, it is one of the hardest experiences we as humans have to face in this life. We cannot always control life though and like Genji we have to learn to move past our troubles even though we won't forget them.