Page:Tayama Katai and His Novel Entitled Futon (Reece).pdf/97



Both and  depict daily happenings that make their readers feel as if these characters were actually living in their midst. How is this close feeling between a reader and the characters brought about? Is it not possible that this resulted from the authors' ability to portray situations similar to some that have taken place in the reader's life? Let us examine these principle characters, who are vehicles for the development of the authors' themes. First we shall analyze Hauptmann's technique of revealing his protagonist; then, we shall compare these findings with the technique Katai uses for his principal character.

From our previous analysis of the theme and characters of we know that Johannes takes his life at the end of the play; therefore, we can assume that Johannes might have had that idea right from the beginning of the play. Let us find out how this idea is developed.

consists of five acts. All scenes take place in Johannes' house in a Berlin suburb. The First Act begins right after the christening of Johannes' and Käthe's first son. In a gay atmosphere, Hauptmann skillfully presents each member of the Vockerat family and the related characters of the play. Johannes' parents and their close friend Pastor Kollins are jovial until the Pastor sees the portraits of Darwin and Haeckel.