Chapter 40 Summary

After four years of illness, Murasaki continues to wish to become a nun. Unfortunately, Genji does not want to give her up, so he refuses to allow her to leave him. When Murasaki dies, Genji is distraught because of his own unwillingness to let her go. Realizing his mistake, Genji wants Yugiri to administer the vows of a nun on Murasaki, but it is too late. Yugiri calls for priests and he asks them to administer the rites so that he can try to set things right between Genji and Murasaki.

Chapter 40 Analysis

Once again, Genji's unwillingness to give up ties to the world has come back to haunt him. Instead of allowing his own wife to become a holy woman, he holds her back and prevents her from disassociating herself from the impermanent world in which he lives. Not only is he...