Model Question & Answer - Twilight of a Crane

Discuss love as the foundation of happiness and peace in the play Twilight of a Crane.

Essay in point form:

Love is one of the predominant and recurring themes discussed throughout the play. The theme of love is brought out by throwing light upon Tzu’s immense love towards her husband, Yohyo, the affectionate and caring bond that the couple share and the fragility of love revealed through Yohyo’s inconsistent nature.

 Tsu, a crane who turned out to be a woman out of gratitude for the man who saved her life is an embodiment of love, innocence and simplicity.

She is “deeply touched” by the manner Yohyo saved her.

 She falls in love with Yohyo, because of his “innocence and kindness”.

 She becomes a loyal and devoted wife to Yohyo and grows into loving him unconditionally and spiritually.

 They seem to be a very loving and devoted couple and Yohyo is portrayed as a caring husband who is very much concerned about his wife’s well-being.

“Cold soup is no good for my sweetheart”

 The love they share is innocent and pure and it’s the foundation of happiness and peace in their tiny tumbled-down hut.

 Tsu’s selfless love and gratitude towards her husband propel her to weave the gorgeous piece of cloth known as “senba ori” at the cost of her strength and life.

“When I first wove the cloth with my feathers, you were as pleased as a child. Then in spite of the pain, I wove them again and again”

 With the symbolic intervention of money, Yohyo starts to falter and greed for money engulfs him. He eventually barters away love for money.

 The evil duo, Unzu and Sodo manipulate Yohyo to get his wife to weave more clothes. He abruptly refuses.

“I love Tsu . She is my darling”

 She is disappointed to see a gap created between them. She tries to bring him back to her world of innocence and love.

“You are going farther and farther from me”

 She views “senba ori”as a sacrifice done out of love, yet for Yohyo, it is a mere material pleasure.

 Finally, she leaves him forever. Yohyo is seen as a pathetic husband who has money, but not love.

 Thus, money wins over love.