Page:Tayama Katai and His Novel Entitled Futon (Reece).pdf/79

 Tokio's above outburst discloses in a sudden flash the potential theme of : a mentor falls in love as others do, and if a mentor falls in love with his pupil, how can love be prohibited between them? This statement contains all that is required for a theme: characters, conflict and conclusion. The question that should be asked now is whether this tentative theme is justified by the rest of the story of or not. All indications lead us to conclude this is the theme of.

Our next step is to evaluate to what extent Katai adopted the theme of Hauptmann's in his. On the surface these two themes appear to embody different conceptions, but careful examination indicates that they are in reality closely attuned to each other. The ensuing comment by Johannes to Anna gives a clue to this similarity.

Is this comment by Johannes in accord with the convictions of Tokio: "Nonsense! How can love discriminate between a mentor and his pupil!"? Yes, it is. Both statements were made by married men who believe in new theories of a naturalistic philosophy which does not inhibit friendship with another woman, and who are attempting to destroy the conventional conception which disapproves of their opinions.