Murasaki Shikibu's Tale of Genji, set in the Heian period, gives a good idea of ​​what the model Heian man and Heian woman should look like. Genji himself is like the physical embodiment of male perfection, while much of the Broom Tree chapter outlines the ideal of a woman: it is men who decide what constitutes a perfect woman, and the fact that even they cannot decide what constitutes distinctive traits are the best, and if anyone can realistically possess all of these traits it shows that women's function in the eyes of men of that period was largely to please their husbands and families. Upon analysis, there are similarities and differences between the standard for Heian men and women, and the Tale of Genji provides excellent examples of characters who fit their respective gender roles. In the Heian world of the Tale of Genji, for both men and women, beauty and elegance are important traits to have, as seen in the great emphasis placed on Genji's good looks and grace. Since he is the model of a perfect man, examining Genji alone is enough to understand the standard of what a Heian male should be. At times, Genji can be persistent and aggressive to the point of being a nuisance who is clearly not used to being denied anything - this is most likely a result of him being so favored by everyone around him while growing up, especially his father . He is made a commoner, but ranks even higher than most people (p. 37), and is given an elaborate coming of age ceremony. If not for the interference of the heir apparent's mother, he too would have been awarded the title of successor. However, despite his flaws, Genji is soon forgiven thanks to his charm and kindness. An example of this is when h...... center of the card ......ic female figures in ancient Japanese literature. Her opinion is basically that such acts are melodramatic and only lead to remorse on her part (p. 25). I thought this meant that Murasaki Shikibu was criticizing those old clichés used in Japanese literature, and the unrealistic standards (which the men in the second chapter later admit are impossible) are a criticism of the expectations placed on women in Heian society. All in all, the book highlights the desperate conditions of women in the Heian period, and as for Genji, who is described by the author and other characters as "perfect" in every imaginable variation of words, it is made clear through his actions and decisions according to which he is not perfect and tends to be quite selfish, which means that the male ideal is also unrealistic and unattainable. Works Cited Shikibu, Murasaki. The Story of Genji. New York: Penguin, 2006.