Loyalty and Betrayal

Loyalty and betrayal is a very important theme running throughout the book. It is central to three different groups of people and their stories. There is the fictional bandit Joman, whose story is told in the play The Thief of the Tokaido. He is hidden by his lover Fusamu when the authorities are trying to find him. She shows loyalty despite the danger, risking her life to protect him. Joman's men are also completely loyal. His wife, unfortunately, is not so loyal. She betrays Joman to the authorities, leading to his capture. Saburo uses this play to convince the city's poor that they should not give up Saburo if they have the chance. They are given a special viewing of the play, during which they come to love the character of Joman. They feel despair and anger when they see that he is being betrayed. Saburo...