Atsumori Commentary

Jake Wythers
Ms Peifer
10 IB Hour Five
5/5/09
Atsumori Commentary

Wild geese were they rather, whose ranks are broken
As they fly to southward on their doubtful journey.
So days and months went by; Spring came again
And for a little while
Here dwelt they on the shore of Suma
At the first valley.
From the mountain behind us the winds blew down
Till the fields grew wintry again.
Our ships lay by the shore, where night and day
The sea-gulls cried and salt waves washed on our sleeves.
We slept with fishers in their huts
On pillows of sand.

In this passage of Atsumori, Seami Motokiyo’s purpose is to show the inferior status and uncertain future of the once great Taira tride. Motokiyo achieves his purpose through usuage of metaphor, diction, and nature imagery.
The very first line of the passage shows the disorganized state of the Taira tribe. “Wild geese were they rather, whose ranks are broken” (Motokiyo). Motokiyo uses metaphor here to aliken the Taira to a chaotic band of geese. This contributes to the audience’s perception of the Taira as no longer being mighty rulers, but mere animals who don’t know where to go.
Motokiyo’s diction in this passage contributes to his purpose. In the second line, the word “doubtful” is used to describe the Taira tribe’s journey. The word choice adds to Motokiyo’s purpose, showing that the Taira are uncertain about where to go and their flight may not even be completed.
Motokiyo also uses nature imagery to convey the impression that the Taira have lost status. “We slept with fishers in their huts/On pillows of sand” (Motokiyo). The image of the once great Taira sleeping in huts with their heads resting on sand shows the audience that the Taira have fallen. “Pillows of sand” provides a sharp contrast to the down pillows they must have slept on before.
Seami Motokiyo’s purpose in this passage of Atsumori is to show how the Taira tribe have fallen from greatness and are uncertain about their future. Motokiyo achieves his purpose through the literary devices metaphor, diction, and nature imagery.