Gendered Body in Meiji Japan: Gender Performativity and Illness in The Cuckoo

Yang, Wenqi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/102984 Copy

Description

Title

• Gendered Body in Meiji Japan: Gender Performativity and Illness in The Cuckoo
• ジェンダー化された身体: 『不如帰』におけるジェンダー・パフォーマティビティと疾病

Author(s)

Yang, Wenqi

Issue Date

2018-03-06

Keyword(s)

• Rōka Tokutomi
• Judith Butler
• gender performance
• illness

Abstract

The present study is a textual analysis of Rōka Tokutomi’s novel, The cuckoo (Hototogisu). Under the theoretical framework of Judith Butler’s gender performativity, the study analyzes the intersection of gender, body and illness (wound) in the novel through putting it back into the broader gender discourse of the Meiji Japan. Particularly, this article concentrates on the gendered performance of the four major characters in the novel: Namiko, Takeo, General Kataoka, and widow Kawarashi. The thesis, in brief, is that gender is only performed by the partnered characters through appearance and bodily actions. Comparing the sick body of Namiko and wounded body of Takeo, the author argues that illness or wound plays a significant role in gender performance and illness does not set the patient free from one’s gender obligation. Also, the bifurcation of “women equal to body, men equal to mind” persists in Tukotomi’s narration.

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/102984

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