Characters
Paper Merchant with a wife and two children
Jihei
Who does Koharu end her life with, and why?
Jihei, and because they were unable to be together due to being in different classes.
"My children! My children! You make me weep again. I see them sleeping soundly, happy in ignorance that their father is about to die. Fair babes, I cannot forget you!" - Jihei (pg. 37)
Honor and Duty
Jihei's competition for Koharu
Tahei
Who does the Samurai pretend to be towards the beginning of the story?
Jihei's brother, Magoemon
"When I saw that you had lost your head about her and were likely to commit suicide with her, I was overcome with grief." - Osan (pg. 24).
Love
The author
Chikamatsu Monzaemon
Who tries to do everything they can to make Jihei happy
Osan
Who Jihei loves but cannot be with..
Koharu
Why did Koharu and Jihei commit what they did, for did they have to?
Because of the Brothel system, they were not able to be together, and for love, they ended their lives together.
Jihei's brother
Magoemon