Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki), Part B

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The Story of Princess Hase

  • Interesting that they were okay with a daughter, when it would seem more likely they wanted a son to carry on the family name
  • Also interesting that she is basically telling her daughter to forget her, and treat her fathers new wife as her mother
  • A "model woman" is submissive and kind
  • Sounds very Cinderella-esque, with a kind child and a wicked stepmother 
  • So now that the stepmother has accidentally killed her own son, she will hate the princess even more
  • What has made this girl so talented?
  • Interesting that she got a military position as a woman
  • The part about the servant being sent to kill her is very Snow White-esque
  • Living in a cottage in the forest to stay safe is very Sleeping Beauty-esque 
  • So the king did want a son anyway. Seems to me that a lieutenant in the military would make a very good queen
  • Interesting use of the term "active life"

Bibliography: Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki link to reading

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