Given the historical context behind the late 1800s, I believe that she represents most of what women went through during that period. Through the story, we see how women were if not completely seen as objects who were less valued than the men of that time. We know now that women up until 1964 were denied the same rights and therefore respect those men have in society with Oseki’s story being no different from others. At that point in time a women’s status was also determined by the man she married and how powerful and respected that man was which we also see in “The Thirteenth Night.” The stereotype which women of that time followed was to be a proper well-adjusted stay-at-home spouse who bared and took care of the children full-time and did housework like cooking, cleaning, etc. Which leads me to believe that she is a representation of that time.
2 thoughts on “The Thirteenth night”
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Hello Sean,
I agree with your response, she represents most of what women went through during that period. This is because she was the main character going through the majority of struggles.
Hi Sean! I agree that she illustrates what most women went through at the time. Oseki would lay out Isamu’s clothes, care for their child, and be a stay-at-home spouse. She represented how women were treated, how they had to make many sacrifices for their families, how their feelings wouldn’t matter, and how they were valued less than men.