Gan (geese) evokes Meiji-era Tokyo: its alleyways, rivers, mansions, poverty, and occasionally tense class interactions. In Mori Ogai's Gan, Okada, a student at the most prestigious university in Japan, becomes entangled in a bittersweet tale of unrequited love involving a woman trapped by circumstance and societal expectations and an ethically suspect merchant. Set against a backdrop of rapid social change, the characters are bound by social and economic pressures, rigid social structures, and familial and financial obligations, all while yearning for freedom.
Notable for its deep exploration of character motivation and wonderfully elaborate female characters, Gan is an exceptional example of early 20th century Japanese Literature. It looks on a changing world, explores its faults and glimmers of hope, and lingers for a moment, bittersweet, at the thought of its passing. This poignant exploration delves into the complexities of human relationships and the universal struggles of the human heart, where social obligation clashes with personal desire, and even the smallest connection can spark a glimmer of hope.
Gan (geese) evokes Meiji-era Tokyo: its alleyways, rivers, mansions, poverty, and occasionally tense class interactions. In Mori Ogai's Gan, Okada, a student at the most prestigious university in Japan, becomes entangled in a bittersweet tale of unrequited love involving a woman trapped by circum...