35. Wakana, Part II / New Herbs: Part Two(若菜下)
Passage
Having hunted high and low, he went towards the couch where Nyosan had lain, and suddenly noticed that a piece of light blue paper was sticking out from under her mattress, which was pushed slightly out of place. Without paying any particular attention to what he was doing, he pulled out this piece of paper, and glancing at it, saw that it was covered with writing in a man's hand.
This is one of the most dramatic scenes in The Tale of Genji. Aristotle would probably call it anagnorisis.
Summary
Murasaki tells Genji that she wants to enter monastic life, but Genji does not allow it.Murasaki falls ill. Genji takes care of her. Meanwhile, Kashiwagi has an affair with Nyosan. Nyosan becomes pregnant. Genji finds a letter from Kashiwagi in Nyosan's room and learns the truth.
Kashiwagi, whose sin has been exposed, becomes mentally and physically ill. It is critical.
Comment
Genji, who was a playboy in his youth, is cheated on later in life.
Some people consider the theme of The Tale of Genji to be karma.
In the past, people believed that the suffering in life came from karma.
To escape suffering, they entered monastic life.