The Role of Women Portrayed in the Novel "The Wild Geese" Daniella De Rijke 10th Grade

Ogai Mori, one of Japan’s most highly respected writers, was the author of the novel “The Wild Geese”. One of the primary characteristics of Mori’s work is its examination on problems that arise in people’s lives, specifically when their desires conflict with the demands made upon them by society. Back in the 19th century, Japanese society inflicted the fact that women didn’t legally exist, and were solely seen as those in charge of taking care of the household and children. Throughout the story, the author depicts one character’s life, Otama, as a woman in the Meiji-era, who has little freedom to make choices in her personal way of life. Also, male characters such as Okada and Suezo are used to identify the different perspectives men could have towards female roles. Therefore, the novel reflects a realist romanticism of the late 1800's Japanese society, portraying throughout symbolic figures and the main female characters the difficulties of living in this period of time.

The primary way in which Ogai Mori accomplishes to transmit his message is throughout the male character of Suezo and his involvement with women. This sexist character decides to follow society’s influences and objectify women, specially seen in the way he...